Reliability of Scores Computed by a Commercial Virtual Reality System and Association with Indices of Cognitive Performance in Male Elite Rugby Players

Purpose: To examine the reliability of scores calculated from virtual reality (VR) games and their association with inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility in young elite rugby players. Methods: Following a familiarization session, seventeen rugby union players completed a session of a modified Stroop test and two sessions of three VR games consisting of (1) memorizing moving targets (Tracker Master); (2) selecting moving targets while avoiding pitfalls (Beat Master-Never Stop); and (3) selecting moving targets with an increasing frequency of appearance (Beat Master-Turbo). Results: The reliability of Beat Master-Never Stop was poor to moderate (0.41 < intraclass coefficient correlation [ICC] < 0.62; 3.2% < standard error of measurement [SEM] < 26.1%), while it was good to very good for Beat Master-Turbo (0.77 < ICC < 0.87; 3.2% < SEM < 18.2%). Regarding Tracker Master, reliability was considered as low to moderate (0.22 < ICC < 0.60; 2.2% < SEM < 6.0%). We found strong associations between Tracker Master and Stroop flexibility scores (-0.55 < r < -0.64), as well as strong to very strong associations between Beat Master-Never Stop scores and the Stroop inhibition score (0.52 < divide r divide < 0.84). Conclusions: Considering their metrological properties and their association level with inhibition and flexibility, the sensibility scores of the Beat Master-Never Stop and Tracker Master games should be preferred for monitoring training load, provided at least two familiarization sessions precede them.