TMS Investigations of the Human Visual System

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are investigating how the brain processes visual information, focusing on two systems: one that recognizes what objects are and another that locates where objects are. The study aims to understand how these brain pathways contribute to recognizing different types of objects, using advanced brain imaging and stimulation techniques. This research involves healthy adults aged 18 to 50 who speak English. The study uses a series of experiments combining behavioral visual tasks with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and brain stimulation methods called transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial electrical stimulation (tES). Participants may undergo fMRI scans to identify brain regions involved in vision before receiving either TMS or tES during or before performing visual recognition tasks. These tasks involve viewing images of faces, bodies, tools, and scenes, sometimes shown briefly, and responding via keyboard or button presses. The stimulation can enhance or disrupt brain activity to study its effect on task performance. Participants will attend multiple visits over up to three years, including screening exams and baseline brain scans. During visits, they will perform visual tasks alone or combined with brain imaging and stimulation. Researchers will measure task accuracy, reaction times, and brain activity changes related to the stimulation. Safety monitoring and detailed assessments will be conducted throughout the study to understand how brain pathways support visual recognition.

Brain Stimulation and Vision Testing