Testing How Vision Loss Affects Driving Skills in Virtual Reality
Studies how stroke-related vision loss affects steering in a virtual reality driving task.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Vision Loss Impact on Navigation in Virtual Reality
Key facts
- Where
- Rochester, United StatesSee the site
Could this be for you?
Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.
- Are you between 21 and 75 years old?
Source: NCT06047717, who can take part
Where in United States
- University of RochesterRochester, United StatesTaking people
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- University of Rochester
- Trial code
- NCT06047717
- Record updated
- 25 August 2026
- Original description
The purpose of this research is to better understand the impact of cortically-induced blindness (CB) and the compensatory strategies subjects with this condition may develop on naturalistic behaviors, specifically, driving. Using a novel Virtual Reality (VR) program, the researchers will gather data on steering behavior in a variety of simulated naturalistic environments. Through the combined use of computer vision, deep learning, and gaze-contingent manipulations of the visual field, this work will test the central hypothesis that changes to visually guided steering behaviors in CB are a consequence of changes to the visual sampling and processing of task-related motion information (i.e., optic flow).Read full original descriptionShow less
The Impact of Vision Loss on Naturalistic Behavior and Navigation in Virtual Reality
The purpose of this research is to better understand the impact of cortically-induced blindness (CB) and the compensatory strategies subjects with this condition may develop on naturalistic behaviors, specifically, driving. Using a novel Virtual Reality (VR) program, the researchers will gather data on steering behavior in a variety of simulated naturalistic environments. Through the combined use of computer vision, deep learning, and gaze-contingent manipulations of the visual field, this work will test the central hypothesis that changes to visually guided steering behaviors in CB are a consequence of changes to the visual sampling and processing of task-related motion information (i.e., optic flow).
Inclusion: Residents of the United States or Canada; Presence of one-sided stroke or stroke-like damage to primary visual cortex or its immediate afferent white matter sustained within the specified age range of 21 - 75 years (verified by MRI and/or CT scans); Reliable visual field defects in both eyes (homonymous defects) as measured by Humphrey or equivalent perimetry; Willing, able, and competent to provide their own informed consent; Cognitively able, responsible to understand written and oral instructions in English; Emmetropic or else wear corrective contact lenses inside the virtual reality headset; Normal or corrected-to-normal vision, who are between the ages of 21 and 75 years of age, roughly matched to the age of CB subjects enrolled above; Competent and responsible, as determined by the Principal Investigator; Willing, able, and competent to provide their own informed consent; Normal cognitive abilities, be able to understand written and oral instructions in English; Emmetropic or else wear corrective contact lenses inside the virtual reality headset.
Exclusion: Past or present ocular disease interfering with visual acuity; History of traumatic brain injury; Documented history of drug/alcohol abuse; Diagnosis of cognitive or seizure disorders; Presence of vision loss from ocular diseases or disorders; Subjects with a history of neurological disorders; Subjects with a history of TBI; Those who have never driven or earned a drivers' license; Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) worse than 20/40 in either eye; Sustained damage to the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus; Presence of diffuse, whole-brain degenerative processes; Presence of brain damage deemed by study staff to potentially interfere with outcome measures; Diagnosis of one-sided attentional neglect; Control Group:; Subjects who have never driven or earned a drivers' license; BCVA worse than 20/40 in either eye; Presence of a visual field defect; Inability to wear corrective contact lenses inside the virtual reality helmet if required to see clearly; Persons who lack the competence or are otherwise unable to perform the visual testing as directed.
Cortically Blind Group:.