Characterisation of and intervention in visual cortical damage
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Characterisation of and intervention in visual cortical damage, using psychophysics, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)
IRAS ID
115226
Contact name
Stephanie Larcombe
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Buckinghamshire NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
There are approximately 150,000 reported strokes in the UK alone each year. The most common visual defect resulting from a stroke, which occurs in an estimated one in six patients, is homonymous hemianopia (HH); a loss of one side of vision in both eyes. HH causes severe impairments in daily living, and has a large detrimental impact upon patient well-being and independence. There are very few rehabilitative therapies for HH currently available.
Research has indicated that some residual ability to see may remain in the “blind” areas of vision in HH patients. Recent literature has shown that the motion processing area of the brain (MT/V5) may be involved in such residual vision. It is proposed that by training brain area V5/MT, the amount or quality of any residual vision will improve in patients with HH. MT/V5 has already been shown to be susceptible to motion training in healthy control subjects.
This research will look at two prjects. Project 1 will involve a single, intense motion-training session to determine its effects on HH. Project 2 will look at combining motion training with mild electrical brain stimulation across five consecutive sessions. Functional MRI scans will determine change in neural activity before and ater training in Project 2.
Research will be funded by a University Research Fellowship (Royal Society) and Research Capability Funding (National Institute of Health Research).
Patient identification will be carried out at hospitals in the Oxfordshire, Bristol and London areas as well as at other Eye Hospitals throughout the UK.
REC name
South Central - Oxford B Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/SC/0483
Date of REC Opinion
30 Oct 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion