Actively Recruiting
The Impact of Vision Loss on Naturalistic Behavior and Navigation in Virtual Reality
Led by University of Rochester · Updated on 2026-01-09
40
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
N/A
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
U
University of Rochester
Lead Sponsor
R
Rochester Institute of Technology
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
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.
CONDITIONS
Brief Title
Vision Loss Impact on Navigation in Virtual Reality
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Cortically Blind Group: Residents of the United States or Canada
- Cortically Blind Group: Age 21 to 75 years with one-sided stroke or similar damage to primary visual cortex verified by MRI or CT
- Cortically Blind Group: Reliable homonymous visual field defects in both eyes
- Cortically Blind Group: Willing and able to provide informed consent
- Cortically Blind Group: Cognitively able to understand written and oral instructions in English
- Cortically Blind Group: Emmetropic or able to wear corrective contact lenses inside VR headset
- Control Group: Normal or corrected-to-normal vision, age 21 to 75 years
- Control Group: Competent and responsible as determined by Principal Investigator
- Control Group: Willing and able to provide informed consent
- Control Group: Normal cognitive abilities, able to understand instructions in English
- Control Group: Emmetropic or able to wear corrective contact lenses inside VR headset
You will not qualify if you...
- Cortically Blind Group: Never driven or never held a driver's license
- Cortically Blind Group: Past or present ocular disease affecting visual acuity
- Cortically Blind Group: Best corrected visual acuity worse than 20/40 in either eye
- Cortically Blind Group: Damage to the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus
- Cortically Blind Group: Diffuse whole-brain degenerative processes
- Cortically Blind Group: Brain damage interfering with outcome measures
- Cortically Blind Group: History of traumatic brain injury
- Cortically Blind Group: History of drug or alcohol abuse
- Cortically Blind Group: Cognitive or seizure disorders
- Cortically Blind Group: One-sided attentional neglect
- Control Group: Never driven or never held a driver's license
- Control Group: Best corrected visual acuity worse than 20/40 in either eye
- Control Group: Vision loss from ocular diseases or disorders
- Control Group: Visual field defects
- Control Group: Unable to wear corrective contact lenses inside VR headset if needed
- Control Group: History of neurological disorders
- Control Group: History of traumatic brain injury
- Control Group: Unable or not competent to perform visual testing as directed
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
Your Study Journey
Duration - 2 to 4 weeks
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial.
1 visit (in-person)
Duration - 1 day
Participants perform a virtual reality driving task where they steer a virtual car through a series of turns while maintaining lane position.
1 visit (in-person)
Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
University of Rochester
Rochester, New York, United States, 14642
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
E
Evan Burr
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
NONE
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Number of Arms
2
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