Evaluating eye blinking to assess cognitive abilities in individuals with severe brain injury

Spontaneous Eye Blinking Evaluation for Cognitive Assessment of Individuals With Severe Acquired Brain Injury

Observational Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus · NCT06464549

This study is testing if tracking eye blinking can help doctors understand the attention levels of people with severe brain injuries and improve their treatment.

Quick facts

Study typeObservational
Enrollment55 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorFondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus Academic / other
Locations2 sites (Sant'Angelo dei Lombardi, AV and 1 other locations)
Trial IDNCT06464549 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This project evaluates the use of spontaneous eye blinking features to assess attentional abilities in individuals with severe acquired brain injury (sABI). Patients will undergo EEG-EOG recordings at rest and during an auditory oddball task, with eye blinking features analyzed and compared to healthy individuals. A machine-learning algorithm will be developed to assist in diagnosing patients with disorders of consciousness, distinguishing between unresponsive wakefulness syndrome and minimally conscious states. The study aims to provide clinicians with easy-to-detect clinical markers to improve patient management and rehabilitation planning.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates include adults aged 18 and older diagnosed with severe acquired brain injury at least 28 days post-injury.

Not a fit: Patients with unstable clinical conditions or those who have significant ophthalmic disorders may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could enhance the accuracy of cognitive assessments in patients with severe brain injuries, leading to better rehabilitation strategies.

How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown promise in using eye blinking features for cognitive assessment, indicating potential success for this approach.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* diagnosis of severe acquired brain injury;
* age≥18 years;
* time post-injury≥28 days
* written informed consent by patient or, where necessary, by primary caregiver

Exclusion criteria will be:

* large craniectomy interfering with EEG recording;
* unstable clinical conditions;
* presence of ophthalmic disorders, or central or peripheral impairments in eyelid motility on clinical evaluation;
* administration of sedative medication in the previous 24h;
* previous history of neurological or psychiatric diseases

Where this trial is running

Sant'Angelo dei Lombardi, AV and 1 other locations

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Disorders of ConsciousnessAcquired Brain Injurysevere acquired brain injurycognitive rehabilitationdiagnosiseye blinkingmachine learning
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.