Brain control of eye turning after a concussion
Functional Mechanism of Neural Control in Post-Concussion Convergence Insufficiency
['FUNDING_R01'] · NEW JERSEY INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY · NIH-11170492
This project looks at how the brain controls inward eye movement (convergence) in teens and adults who have trouble after a concussion and whether hands-on eye movement therapy helps.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | NEW JERSEY INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (NEWARK, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11170492 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Researchers will record precise eye movements and use functional MRI brain scans to identify which brain areas are linked to poor convergence after a concussion. They will compare people with post-concussion convergence insufficiency to people without the condition and follow changes over time. Some participants will receive office-based vergence/accommodative therapy while the team tracks improvements in eye movement speed and symptoms. The study links therapy-driven changes in brain activity to real improvements in vision function.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adolescents or adults who developed convergence insufficiency after a concussion, can travel to Newark, New Jersey, and are willing to undergo eye tests, fMRI scans, and office-based therapy.
Not a fit: People whose vision problems come from other causes—such as eye muscle paralysis, severe uncorrectable vision loss, or unrelated neurological disorders—may not receive benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to more targeted therapies that reduce double vision, eye strain, and related symptoms after a concussion.
How similar studies have performed: Earlier randomized trials for typical convergence insufficiency have shown office-based vergence therapy improves symptoms and have linked improvements to brain activity changes, though applying these methods specifically after concussion is more recent.
Where this research is happening
NEWARK, UNITED STATES
- NEW JERSEY INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY — NEWARK, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: ALVAREZ, TARA LYNN — NEW JERSEY INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
- Study coordinator: ALVAREZ, TARA LYNN
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions: Binocular Vision Disorder