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RECRUITING
NCT07341763
NA

Brain Stimulation Effects on Orientation and Mobility Skills in Adults With Vision Impairment

Sponsor: University of Waterloo

View on ClinicalTrials.gov

Summary

This pilot clinical trial evaluates whether non-invasive brain stimulation improves the orientation and mobility (O\&M) skills of individuals with constricted visual fields in both eyes. The study is composed of three visits. The first visit is meant to confirm eligibility by performing a few clinical tests. Eligible participants will then complete two additional visits, one in which the participants receive active stimulation, and one in which the participants receive placebo (sham) stimulation. Stimulation will be administered in a randomized, double-blind order. To evaluate improvement, various measures of O\&M performance will be assessed on a standardized obstacle course featuring static natural and artificial obstacles at defined intervals after the intervention. We hypothesize that the application of hf-tRNS to V1 will improve the orientation and mobility skills of individuals with constricted visual fields immediately following stimulation as a results of enhanced periphery through modulation of the mechanisms responsible for crowding, thereby reducing crowding effects and improving contrast for individuals with rod-cone dystrophy and RP (genetic conditions), whereas for individuals with glaucoma (a neurogenerative condition), any improvement noted would be attributed to be enhanced processing of visual signal in the affected periphery. The results will inform the design of a future, larger-scale study.

Official title: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study to Evaluate Non-invasive Brain Stimulation Effects on Orientation and Mobility Performance in Adults With Visual Impairments

Key Details

Gender

All

Age Range

18 Years - Any

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Enrollment

20

Start Date

2026-07-01

Completion Date

2027-08-31

Last Updated

2026-07-07

Healthy Volunteers

No

Interventions

DEVICE

Active hf-tRNS.

Active hf-tRNS: A weak alternating electric current is applied to the head through two electrodes to affect the cortical excitability of the targeted cells in the brain. Stimulation instrument: neuroConn DC Stimulator Plus 2019 (Direct current stimulator Model number 0021, power: 1.2 W, charger: 2.9 V (maximum 160 mA)) (neurocaregroup.com), or neuroConn DC Stimulator MC 2016 (Multi-channel stimulator Model number 0028, power: 24 W, rating: 12 V (maximum 2 A)) (neurocaregroup.com).

DEVICE

Placebo/sham hf-tRNS

Placebo/sham hf-tRNS: The tRNS machine will be used as in active stimulation, except the electrical current will not be applied. Stimulation instrument: neuroConn DC Stimulator Plus 2019 (Direct current stimulator Model number 0021, power: 1.2 W, charger: 2.9 V (maximum 160 mA)) (neurocaregroup.com), or neuroConn DC Stimulator MC 2016 (Multi-channel stimulator Model number 0028, power: 24 W, rating: 12 V (maximum 2 A)) (neurocaregroup.com).

Locations (1)

University of Waterloo, School of Optometry and Vision Science

Waterloo, Ontario, Canada