Factors in Learning And Plasticity: Macular Degeneration

Part of paid clinical trials in Birmingham, Alabama.

Sponsor
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Study ID
NCT05454124
Status
Recruiting
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Conditions

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
ALL
Age
18 Years - 89 Years
Healthy Volunteers
Not accepted

Interventions

  • Training visual sensitivity — BEHAVIORAL
    Investigators adopt a standard PL approach to train early visual processes of discriminating the orientation of Gabor patches presented at threshold contrast. Across training blocks, Gabors will range in spatial frequency, where contrast is adapted with a 3/1 staircase. Whenever a specific contrast threshold is reached, spatial frequency will increase by 2 cycles per degree and contrast will be reset. Preliminary data from this method in normally seeing and MD participants show both feasibility and tentative evidence that this training gives rise to improvements in acuity.
  • Combination training — BEHAVIORAL
    Daily tasks involve a combination of being sensitive to basic visual features, being able to integrate these features, and directing attention and eye movements to better evaluate the information of potential interest. To address this integrative nature of real-world vision, this condition combines elements of training visual sensitivity, spatial integration, and spatial attention.

Study Details

A greater understanding of plasticity after central vision loss can inform new therapies for treating low vision and has the potential to benefit millions of individuals suffering from low vision. The treatment of low vision is particularly relevant to the mission of the NEI to support research on visual disorders, mechanisms of visual function, and preservation of sight. The comparison of different training and outcome factors is in line with the NIMH RDOC framework and studies in an aging population are consistent with the mission of the NIA.

Key Dates

Start date
Nov 1, 2022
Status verified
Feb 2026
Primary completion
Nov 30, 2026
Completion
Nov 30, 2026

Study Design

Enrollment
60 participants (estimated)
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE

Arms

  • Experimental: Training visual sensitivity
    A standard Perceptual Learning approach to train early visual processes of discriminating the orientation of Gabor patches presented at threshold- level contrast. Preliminary data, using this method, in normally seeing and MD participants show both feasibility and preliminary evidence that this training gives rise to improvements in acuity.
  • Experimental: Combination training
    In combination training, investigators test the extent to which a combined training gives rise to the joint benefits of each training individually, or integrative benefits potentially surpassing benefits of the individual training alone. The visual sensitivity task will alternate across blocks with the spatial integration task, using the timing of targets and location switches from spatial attention training.

Primary Outcome Measure

Change from Baseline Radial Bias from the Crowding Task after completion of Training at approximately 7 weeks [ Time Frame: Baseline and Within 3 weeks of training completion, training is complete 7 weeks from baseline on average ]

Central Contacts

Locations (1)

FacilityCityStateZIPSite coordinators
UABBirminghamAlabama35294
Rachel A Chua, MS
[email protected]
205-410-4041
Kristina M Visscher, PhD
[email protected]
205-934-0497
Kristina M Visscher, Ph.D. (PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR)

Find similar trials in Birmingham, AL

By condition
Age-related macular degeneration
By specialty
OphthalmologyRetina
By research site
UAB· Birmingham, AL

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