Visual Plasticity Following Brain Lesions

Launched by GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY · Jul 29, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial, called the VIBRANT study, is exploring a new way to help people who have lost part of their vision due to brain injuries like stroke, brain tumors, or head trauma. Specifically, it focuses on a type of vision loss called homonymous hemianopia, where a person loses half of their field of vision on the same side in both eyes. The study is testing whether a special brain stimulation technique combined with vision training exercises can improve these visual problems.

People who may be eligible include adults over 18 who have experienced a stroke, brain tumor, or traumatic brain injury that caused vision loss, and whose condition has been stable for at least a few months. The study is also looking for healthy adults to participate as a comparison group. Participants will receive brain stimulation and vision training, but neither they nor the researchers will know who is receiving which treatment at the time, to keep the study fair. This research could help develop better ways to restore vision after brain injury, offering hope for improved daily life and independence.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• • A. Stroke, brain tumor, or traumatic brain injury patients
• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1. At least 18 years of age.
• • 2. Capable of providing informed consent and complying with study procedures.
• • 3. Unilateral or bilateral focal brain damage causing loss of vision.
• • 4. At least three months post-stroke or traumatic brain injury, or a stable brain tumor within the past year.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Severe CNS diseases or disorders unrelated to the focal lesion, which could interfere with study results.
• • 2. Severe mental health challenges that could interfere with study results, or current or recent (within the past 6 months) drug or alcohol abuse or addiction as defined by DSM-5.
• • 3. Vision loss resulting from ocular disease or disorder.
• B. Healthy volunteers (age-matched controls):
• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1. At least 18 years of age.
• • 2. Capable of providing informed consent and complying with study procedures.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Any CNS diseases or psychiatric disorders (e.g., epilepsy, schizophrenia) that would interfere with study results.
• • 2. Previous head injury.
• • 3. Present or past (within past 6 months) drug or alcohol abuse or addiction based on DSM-5.