Restore 3D vision by stimulating mid-level visual brain areas
Manipulation of 3D object perception with mid-level cortical micro-stimulation
This work aims to create 3D object perceptions for people with severe vision loss by electrically stimulating specific parts of the visual cortex.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11251273 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are testing whether patterned electrical stimulation of intermediate visual cortex can produce recognizable 3D shape sensations. They will record and stimulate clusters of neurons in the V4 area of macaque monkeys while the animals perform a 4-choice 3D shape matching task to see if stimulation causes perception of specific shape fragments. The team will map which stimulation sites correspond to particular 3D parts and combine those signals to build more complex shape percepts. Findings will guide whether this parts-based cortical stimulation approach could become a pathway toward a prosthetic that helps people with blindness perceive 3D objects.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal future candidates would be people with severe vision loss or blindness who have an intact visual cortex and are eligible for a cortical visual prosthesis.
Not a fit: People with normal vision or those whose visual cortex is substantially damaged are unlikely to benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lead to a new kind of visual prosthesis that conveys 3D shape information and helps people with severe vision loss recognize objects and navigate more safely.
How similar studies have performed: Previous work has produced simple phosphenes from retinal or V1 stimulation, but using higher-level visual areas to evoke coherent 3D shape percepts is novel and largely untested.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- Johns Hopkins University — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Connor, Charles E — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Connor, Charles E
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.