Effectiveness of AV-stimulation in Immersive VR to Improve Visual Perception and Driving Performance

Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of an immersive virtual-reality (IVR) based stimulation program, in improving visual perception for people who have lost their driver's license due to perceptual or cognitive impairments.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

1. Can the 6-week IVR stimulation program help improve driving performance?
2. Will participants experience improvement in visual detection and perception after training?

Study Design Summary:

* Participants will be randomized into a waitlist group or intervention-first group
* The VR-based intervention will consist of training every 2 days for six weeks
* Waitlist group will wait 6 weeks before starting intervention at study midpoint (week 7)
* Intervention-first group will begin with intervention (week 1-6) and then stop intervention at study midpoint
* Participants will complete tests related to driving performance, visual attention, and visual fields at the start of study, midpoint, and end of study

Researchers will analyze data for changes from baseline in outcome measures.

Conditions

• Stroke
• Visual Impairment
• Low Vision
• Virtual Reality
• Visual Spatial Processing
• Visual Field Defect
• Visual Processing Speed
• Cognitive Impairment
• Driving Impaired

Interventions

DEVICE

Audiovisual Stimulation

The device application involves the 3D multiple-object-tracking (3D-MOT) paradigm composed of 8 high-contrast spheres which are adapted to the visual ability of participant (luminosity and size). The initial speed of the spheres is adjustable and determined during the inclusion visit. One or more of the spheres is temporarily highlighted (target). Then all 8 spheres move for 20 seconds following random linear paths, bouncing on one another and on the walls of a virtual 3D cube when collisions occur. After 20 seconds, the movement stops and the participant is asked to select, using the hand controller, the initially highlighted target(s) among the 8 spheres. If the selection is correct the speed of the spheres in the next trial is increased. If the selection is incorrect the speed of the spheres in the next trial is decreased. Based on performance, stimulations will be adjusted to change difficulty level (e.g. changing backgrounds, number of cued balls, etc.)

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University Health Network, Toronto

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Michael Reber, PhD · University Health Network, Toronto

• Lora Appel, PhD · York University

• Jennifer Campos, PhD · University Health Network, Toronto

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

SINGLE

Model

CROSSOVER

Eligibility

Min Age

25 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-02-01

Primary Completion

2025-12-01

Completion

2025-12-01

Countries

• Canada

Study Locations