Advanced Spatiomotor Rehabilitation for Navigation in Blindness & Visual Impairment

Launched by SMITH-KETTLEWELL EYE RESEARCH INSTITUTE · May 11, 2022

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is looking at ways to help people who are blind or have low vision improve their ability to navigate their surroundings. The study aims to enhance their spatial awareness, which is how they understand and remember where things are in their environment. Researchers will use a special type of training called Cognitive-Kinesthetic Rehabilitation Training, and they will also use brain imaging techniques to see how the brain changes and adapts as participants learn these new skills.

To participate in this study, individuals should be between the ages of 6 and 74 and have very limited or no vision (like seeing less than 20/500 or having no light perception). They need to be comfortable with MRI scans, which are a type of brain imaging, and should not have any neurological problems or difficulties moving their arms or legs. Participants will receive training to help with navigation and may undergo brain scans to see how their brain responds to the training. This trial is important because it could lead to new ways to help people with visual impairments navigate better, which can improve their independence and quality of life.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• Behavioral Studies:
• • Vision from \< 20/500 to NLP (No Light Perception)
• Brain Imaging Studies:
• • Vision from \< 20/500 to NLP
• • Within average gender range for height +/-1 standard deviation
• • Within average gender range for weight +/-1 standard deviation
• • Comfortable with MRI procedures
• Exclusion Criteria:
• Behavioral Studies:
• • Neurological deficits
• • Inability to normally control lower or upper extremities
• • Inability to hear and understand instructions.
• Brain Imaging Studies:
• • All standard MRI exclusion criteria, such as having any metallic objects in the body, or being too large to fit or operate comfortably in the scanner bore.