Brain Stimulation and Vision Testing

Launched by NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH (NIMH) · Jun 8, 2012

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is exploring how our brains recognize and process visual information, specifically focusing on two different systems: one that identifies what we see, like faces or tools, and another that helps us understand where those objects are located. Researchers will use advanced imaging techniques, like MRI, and brain stimulation methods, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial electrical stimulation (tES), to see how different parts of the brain work during visual tasks.

To participate, you need to be a healthy adult between 18 and 50 years old and be able to read and understand English. If you join the study, you will take part in various vision tests at the National Institutes of Health, where you’ll look at pictures on a computer screen and respond in different ways. Your participation can last up to three years, and you'll have plenty of opportunities to practice the tasks before the actual testing. It's important to know that certain medical conditions or devices may prevent you from participating for safety reasons.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• * INCLUSION CRITERIA:
• • Healthy
• • Ages 18-50 years (inclusive)
• • Able to read and write in English to guarantee understanding of all written and spoken instructions, which are in English
• EXCLUSION CRITERIA:
• Individuals with conditions that could pose a risk relating to the safety of the MRI procedure, the TMS procedure or the combined TBS and fMRI procedure will be excluded from the protocol such as:
• • Those with ferromagnetic metal in the cranial cavity or eye, e.g. aneurysm clip, implanted neural stimulator, cochlear implant, ocular foreign body.
• • Those with an abnormality on a structural MRI.
• • Those with an implanted cardiac pacemaker or auto-defibrillator
• • Those with an insulin pump.
• • Those with an irremovable body piercing
• • Pregnant women
• • Those with a visual impairment that will prevent them from performing the task
• • Those without consent capacity will not be enrolled
• • Those who do not understand the study instructions
• • Those with a history of neurological problems. Neurological problems include, but are not limited to; family history of epilepsy, history of seizures and recurrent migraines.
• • Those using medicines that can lower the seizure threshold. These can include but are not limited to; imipramine, amitriptyline, doxepine, nortriptyline, maprotiline, chlorpromazine, clozapine, foscarnet, ganciclovir, ritonavir, amphetamines.
• • Those with a visual impairment that will prevent them from performing the task
• • Those who have a significant psychiatric illness or have a history of psychiatric illness.
• • NIMH staff/employees/family members