Sensory Substitution and Brain Plasticity Following Vision Loss

Part of paid clinical trials in Palo Alto, California.

Sponsor
Stanford University
Study ID
NCT07450677
Status
Not Yet Recruiting

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Conditions

  • Blindness

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
ALL
Age
8 Years - 85 Years
Healthy Volunteers
Accepted

Interventions

  • Electrotactile display (BrainPort) — DEVICE
    The BrainPort is a non-surgical assistive device that translates digital information from a video camera to gentle electrotactile stimulation patterns on the surface of the tongue.
  • Vision-to-sound converter (AI Sight) — DEVICE
    The AI Sight is an auditory technology software that can convert visual information into sound patterns, which can be delivered through regular headphones.
  • Sham — DEVICE
    Participants will wear the assistive technology system, but there will be no active sensory signals applied.

Study Details

The goal of this clinical investigation is to learn how the brain responds when visual information is converted into patterns of sound or touch in blind and sighted participants. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does converting visual information into sound or touch patterns change visual performance in the blind or blindfolded? * How does the brain adapt to different kinds of sensory information? Researchers will use brain imaging and simple performance tasks to see how people process and learn from this type of converted sensory input. The investigators will compare how individuals with and without long-term vision loss respond to these signals. Participants will: * Learn to use technologies to assist in visual information conversion into sound or touch patterns every day for 5 weeks; * Visit the brain imaging center 3 times for brain scans and behavioral tests.

Key Dates

Start date
Jun 1, 2026
Status verified
Mar 2026
Primary completion
Aug 31, 2030
Completion
Aug 31, 2030

Study Design

Enrollment
200 participants (estimated)
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE

Arms

  • Experimental: Vision-to-sound sensory substitution training
    Participants will learn to interpret the sound patterns that are converted from visual information while using the assistive technology.
  • Experimental: Vision-to-touch sensory substitution training
    Participants will learn to interpret the touch patterns that are converted from visual information while using the assistive technology.
  • Sham Comparator: Sham training
    Participants will learn to interpret the sound/touch patterns verbally without presenting the sensory signals from the assistive technologies.

Primary Outcome Measure

Number of correct responses to visual performance tasks [ Time Frame: 5 weeks ]

Central Contacts

Locations (2)

FacilityCityStateZIPSite coordinators
Byers Eye Institute at Stanford UniversityPalo AltoCalifornia94303
Study Team
[email protected]
(650) 497-0625
Mariana Nunez, CCRP
[email protected]
(650) 497-7846
LUCAS Center for ImagingStanfordCalifornia94305
Study Team
[email protected]
(650) 512-7836
Karla Epperson, RT(MR)(ARMRIT)
[email protected]

Find similar trials in Palo Alto, CA

By research site
Byers Eye Institute at Stanford University· Palo Alto, CALUCAS Center for Imaging· Stanford, CA

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