Study of Vision Loss Effects on Driving and Navigation Using Virtual Reality in Adults Aged 21 to 75

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying how cortically-induced blindness CB affects natural behaviors like driving. The study aims to understand how people with CB adapt their visual processing and steering behaviors using a new virtual reality VR program. This research combines computer vision, deep learning, and gaze-based adjustments to analyze how visual information related to motion impacts driving performance. Participants include two groups those with cortical blindness caused by stroke or similar brain injuries, and healthy controls without vision loss. Both groups perform a VR driving task where they steer a virtual car through turns, trying to keep the vehicle centered between road edges. The VR environment varies in visual texture to test different levels of visual information. The study compares steering behaviors across these conditions. During the study, participants complete the VR driving task while researchers measure lane deviation and steering accuracy. Data on visual field defects and cognitive ability are collected to ensure suitability. The primary outcome is lane deviation during the VR task, measured on the first day. Participants must be able to give informed consent and understand instructions. The study involves no masking or randomization and includes healthy volunteers aged 21 to 75 years.

Vision Loss Impact on Navigation in Virtual Reality