Higher-level vision problems in cerebral visual impairment
Characterization and Assessment of Higher-order Visual Dysfunction in Cerebral Visual Impairment
This project looks at why people with cerebral visual impairment (CVI) have trouble finding objects, navigating busy scenes, and using vision to guide movement.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11294933 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, you would do everyday-style vision tasks like finding an object in a cluttered picture and following moving targets while researchers record eye movements and responses. The team will compare how people with CVI perform these tasks versus people without CVI to see whether attention and visual guidance are affected. They will also test how vision problems influence hand-eye coordination and searching using other senses. The goal is to connect lab-based measures with the real-world challenges people with CVI report so care can better target those difficulties.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Children and others diagnosed with cerebral (cortical) visual impairment who have difficulty with visual search, navigation, or visuomotor tasks are the best candidates.
Not a fit: People whose vision loss is primarily due to eye diseases (not brain-based CVI) or who cannot complete behavioral testing due to severe cognitive or physical limitations may not benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to better tests and targeted therapies that help people with CVI find things, move safely, and participate more easily in daily life.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown altered visual search patterns in CVI, but linking attention and visuomotor deficits to everyday functioning is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Merabet, Lotfi — Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
- Study coordinator: Merabet, Lotfi
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.