Understanding how vision loss affects driving in virtual reality
The Impact of Vision Loss on Naturalistic Behavior and Navigation in Virtual Reality
This study tests how vision loss from a stroke affects driving skills in a virtual reality setting to help understand the challenges faced by people with visual field defects.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 40 (estimated) |
| Ages | 21 Years to 75 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of Rochester Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Rochester, New York) |
| Trial ID | NCT06047717 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This research aims to explore the effects of cortically-induced blindness on driving behaviors using a novel Virtual Reality (VR) program. Participants with visual field defects resulting from stroke will engage in a driving task within various simulated environments. The study will utilize computer vision and deep learning techniques to analyze how these individuals process visual information while steering. The central hypothesis is that changes in visually guided steering behaviors are linked to alterations in visual sampling and processing of motion information.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are individuals aged 21 to 75 who have experienced a one-sided stroke resulting in reliable visual field defects.
Not a fit: Patients who have never driven or have significant ocular diseases affecting visual acuity may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to improved rehabilitation strategies for individuals with vision loss after a stroke, enhancing their ability to navigate safely.
How similar studies have performed: While this approach is innovative, similar studies exploring the impact of visual impairments on navigation have shown promise, suggesting potential for success.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Cortically Blind Group: Inclusion Criteria: * Residents of the United States or Canada * Presence of one-sided stroke or stroke-like damage to primary visual cortex or its immediate afferent white matter sustained within the specified age range of 21 - 75 years (verified by MRI and/or CT scans) * Reliable visual field defects in both eyes (homonymous defects) as measured by Humphrey or equivalent perimetry. * Willing, able, and competent to provide their own informed consent * Cognitively able, responsible to understand written and oral instructions in English * Emmetropic or else wear corrective contact lenses inside the virtual reality headset Exclusion Criteria: * Those who have never driven or earned a drivers' license * Past or present ocular disease interfering with visual acuity * Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) worse than 20/40 in either eye * Sustained damage to the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus * Presence of diffuse, whole-brain degenerative processes * Presence of brain damage deemed by study staff to potentially interfere with outcome measures * History of traumatic brain injury * Documented history of drug/alcohol abuse * Diagnosis of cognitive or seizure disorders * Diagnosis of one-sided attentional neglect Control Group: Inclusion Criteria: * Normal or corrected-to-normal vision, who are between the ages of 21 and 75 years of age, roughly matched to the age of CB subjects enrolled above * Competent and responsible, as determined by the Principal Investigator * Willing, able, and competent to provide their own informed consent * Normal cognitive abilities, be able to understand written and oral instructions in English * Emmetropic or else wear corrective contact lenses inside the virtual reality headset Exclusion Criteria: * Subjects who have never driven or earned a drivers' license * BCVA worse than 20/40 in either eye * Presence of vision loss from ocular diseases or disorders * Presence of a visual field defect * Inability to wear corrective contact lenses inside the virtual reality helmet if required to see clearly * Subjects with a history of neurological disorders * Subjects with a history of TBI * Persons who lack the competence or are otherwise unable to perform the visual testing as directed.
Where this trial is running
Rochester, New York
- University of Rochester — Rochester, New York, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Evan Burr
- Email: Evan_Burr@URMC.Rochester.edu
- Phone: 585-275-5234
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.