Vision, OcularNCT03298737
Visual Attention and Eye Movements
An observational study of Vision, Ocular, run by University of Rochester at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The purpose of this study is to provide information about how the brain processes sensory inputs using visual stimuli throughout various psychophysical experiments. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 65 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Vision, Ocular
- What is being tested?
- Covert Spatial Attention
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- How many people
- 20 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 26 Oct 2017to 1 Sep 2027
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 65 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Study population: Healthy participants age 18-65 with corrected to normal vision
Who may be able to join
- Age between 18-65
- Corrected-to-normal vision
- No known diagnosis of visual or auditory disorder or impairment
Who cannot join
- Does not have corrected-to-normal vision
- Unable to understand and follow the instructions given of the study
- Known diagnosis of visual or auditory disorder or impairment
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States1 site
Brain and Cognitive Sciences, University of Rochester
Rochester, New York, 14604
About this study
The purpose of this study is to provide information about how the brain processes sensory inputs using visual stimuli throughout various psychophysical experiments.
Read the detailed description
This laboratory studies visual perception with a focus on the interaction between eye movements and attention. It is well established that attending to a stimulus can profoundly alter perception. For example, attending to a speaker at a crowded party can almost completely filter background both in terms of auditory noise and visual distractions. Although laboratory studies have traditionally investigated the effects of attentional changes in the absence of eye movements, under natural conditions, visual attention is often accompanied by orienting movements to direct our head and eyes towards the relevant objects of interest. Recent work has suggested that these orienting movements affect perception in a manner similar to covert attention. The proposed studies will investigate how eye movements contribute to perception and attention.
The research covered by this protocol combines traditional "button-press" psychophysics with non-invasive eye-tracking to investigate the interaction between eye movements and perception. Subjects will perform simple perceptual tasks, such as judging the orientation or direction of a visual stimulus, while their eye position is monitored with a video eye-tracker. This approach (combining psychophysics and eye-tracking) is flexible, low risk, and fast when compared with neurophysiological studies. However, by focusing on low-level perceptual tasks, the results will be interpretable in the context of larger studies of neurophysiological responses in the visual system.
The investigators hope that this basic research will ultimately have both applied and clinical significance. For example, understanding how perception is influenced by attention and eye-movements in neurotypical populations may provide non-invasive and naturalistic ways to identify and diagnose psychiatric disorders. Additionally, understanding how eye-movements interact with sensory encoding has the potential to improve machine learning algorithms for vision and navigation (These are not a part of the current study, but a potential future impact).
- Conditions
- Vision, Ocular
- Being tested
- Covert Spatial Attention
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Covert Spatial AttentionBehavioural
During behavioral sessions, subjects will sit in a dark room and view a video monitor placed at the minimum of 57 cm distance away from the subject. Staff will be present throughout all the testing to assist the subject and monitor equipment that is used for tracking their eye position. Subjects will be asked to maintain their heads in a stable position of rest in order to insure accurate tracking of their eye position. To stabilize their head, subjects will either use a "chin rest" in which they position their chin on a soft pad mounted in front of a video screen, or they may use a "bite bar."
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Correct to normal vision population | Not described Receives: Behavioral: Covert Spatial Attention |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Pursuit eye movements to peripheral moving stimuli
Pursuit eye movements are smooth eye movements with slow velocities (< 15 degs/sec) that track the motion of visual stimuli when they are at the center of the visual field (Madelain and Krauzlis, J. of Vision, 2003). Here we will test the prediction that pursuit eye movements begin to track the motion of the stimulus located peripherally as an eye movement moves to the stimulus. The null hypothesis is that there will be no effect of the peripheral stimulus motion on the pursuit eye movements. We will measure eye movements using an infra-red eye tracker (Arrington, Inc) from 500 or more trials collected in each session. The distribution of pursuit eye movements will be computed for each subject to evaluate if there is significant pursuit along the direction of stimulus motion around the time of the saccade. The mean per participant will be determined and group effects evaluated.
Measured: baseline
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted2 Oct 2017
- Study start26 Oct 2017
- Primary completionSep 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion1 Sep 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Vision, OcularStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Enrolment
- 20 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Rochester
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Jude Mitchell, University of Rochester
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03298737
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- RSRB00068408
- Status last verified
- Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 20 Sep 2017
- Last updated
- 14 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Madelain L, Krauzlis RJ. Pursuit of the ineffable: perceptual and motor reversals during the tracking of apparent motion. J Vis. 2003 Nov 18;3(11):642-53. doi: 10.1167/3.11.1.
PubMed 14765950
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 14 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Visual Attention and Eye Movements
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03298737
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- RSRB00068408
- Conditions
- Vision, Ocular
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Enrolling by invitation
- Enrolment
- 20 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University of RochesterUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 26 Oct 2017 (actual)
- Primary completion
- Sep 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 1 Sep 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 2 Oct 2017 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The purpose of this study is to provide information about how the brain processes sensory inputs using visual stimuli throughout various psychophysical experiments.
Detailed description
This laboratory studies visual perception with a focus on the interaction between eye movements and attention. It is well established that attending to a stimulus can profoundly alter perception. For example, attending to a speaker at a crowded party can almost completely filter background both in terms of auditory noise and visual distractions. Although laboratory studies have traditionally investigated the effects of attentional changes in the absence of eye movements, under natural conditions, visual attention is often accompanied by orienting movements to direct our head and eyes towards the relevant objects of interest. Recent work has suggested that these orienting movements affect perception in a manner similar to covert attention. The proposed studies will investigate how eye movements contribute to perception and attention.
The research covered by this protocol combines traditional "button-press" psychophysics with non-invasive eye-tracking to investigate the interaction between eye movements and perception. Subjects will perform simple perceptual tasks, such as judging the orientation or direction of a visual stimulus, while their eye position is monitored with a video eye-tracker. This approach (combining psychophysics and eye-tracking) is flexible, low risk, and fast when compared with neurophysiological studies. However, by focusing on low-level perceptual tasks, the results will be interpretable in the context of larger studies of neurophysiological responses in the visual system.
The investigators hope that this basic research will ultimately have both applied and clinical significance. For example, understanding how perception is influenced by attention and eye-movements in neurotypical populations may provide non-invasive and naturalistic ways to identify and diagnose psychiatric disorders. Additionally, understanding how eye-movements interact with sensory encoding has the potential to improve machine learning algorithms for vision and navigation (These are not a part of the current study, but a potential future impact).
Study design
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Correct to normal vision population | – | Behavioral: Covert Spatial Attention |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 65 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
- Study population
- Healthy participants age 18-65 with corrected to normal vision
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Age between 18-65
- Corrected-to-normal vision
- No known diagnosis of visual or auditory disorder or impairment
Key exclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Does not have corrected-to-normal vision
- Unable to understand and follow the instructions given of the study
- Known diagnosis of visual or auditory disorder or impairment
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Covert Spatial AttentionDuring behavioral sessions, subjects will sit in a dark room and view a video monitor placed at the minimum of 57 cm distance away from the subject. Staff will be present throughout all the testing to assist the subject and monitor equipment that is used for tracking their eye position. Subjects will be asked to maintain their heads in a stable position of rest in order to insure accurate tracking of their eye position. To stabilize their head, subjects will either use a "chin rest" in which they position their chin on a soft pad mounted in front of a video screen, or they may use a "bite bar." | Behavioural | Correct to normal vision population |
Primary outcome
Pursuit eye movements to peripheral moving stimuli
Time frame: baseline
Pursuit eye movements are smooth eye movements with slow velocities (< 15 degs/sec) that track the motion of visual stimuli when they are at the center of the visual field (Madelain and Krauzlis, J. of Vision, 2003). Here we will test the prediction that pursuit eye movements begin to track the motion of the stimulus located peripherally as an eye movement moves to the stimulus. The null hypothesis is that there will be no effect of the peripheral stimulus motion on the pursuit eye movements. We will measure eye movements using an infra-red eye tracker (Arrington, Inc) from 500 or more trials collected in each session. The distribution of pursuit eye movements will be computed for each subject to evaluate if there is significant pursuit along the direction of stimulus motion around the time of the saccade. The mean per participant will be determined and group effects evaluated.
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 14 Oct 2026.
- Background: PubMed 14765950Madelain L, Krauzlis RJ. Pursuit of the ineffable: perceptual and motor reversals during the tracking of apparent motion. J Vis. 2003 Nov 18;3(11):642-53. doi: 10.1167/3.11.1.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Vision, Ocular, run by University of Rochester at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 3 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: enrolling by invitation, as of the sponsor's last update on 14 Oct 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Pursuit eye movements to peripheral moving stimuli (time frame: baseline). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT03298737, which also lists 1 linked publication.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 14 Oct 2026.