Protocol Number: 04-N-0110

Title:

Enhanced Tactile Memory in the Blind

Number:

04-N-0110

Summary:

This study will determine if the brain regions in blind people that would normally be involved in vision are used instead to remember touch. Blind people have an enhanced sense of touch compared to sighted people, and they also perform better on tests for certain kinds of memory. This study will examine and compare the results of a touch memory test in blind and sighted people to determine what brain areas are involved in responding to touch.

Blind people and sighted volunteers between 18 and 80 years of age who have no psychiatric problems or neurological problems (other than blindness) may be eligible for this study. Candidates are screened with a medical interview and examination.

Participants undergo one or both of the following procedures:

Behavioral experiment

Sighted participants are blindfolded during this experiment. Subjects sit comfortably in front of a table. They are presented with a number of surfaces placed on a table one at a time and are given 10 seconds to feel each surface with the index finger on their dominant hand. They must concentrate and memorize the surfaces as best they can. After a 15-minute break, they are again presented with a series of surfaces and given 10 seconds to feel each one. This time, they must say as quickly as possibly whether the surface is one they touched previously or is a new surface.

Functional MRI

MRI uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves to obtain images of body organs and tissues. In this study, subjects undergo MRI scanning of the brain while performing the same touch test described above. For the MRI, the subject lies on a table that slides into the scanner. The MRI machine detects change in the brain regions involved in performing the task.

Sponsoring Institute:

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

Recruitment Detail

Type: Active Accrual Of New Subjects

Gender: Male & Female

Referral Letter Required: No

Population Exclusion(s): None

Eligibility Criteria:

INCLUSION CRITERIA - BLIND SUBJECTS:

Only compliant blind subjects between the ages of 18 and 80 years who have little to no visual perception due to diseases affecting the peripheral components of the visual system, i.e., blind subjects without any further neurological problems, and with normal MRI brain scans, will be selected.

For the purposes of this protocol blindness is defined as a complete or near complete (discrimination of light from dark) lack of visual perception.

Early blind subjects: Blind subjects who have lost their vision before the age of 6 years will be included in the early blind group.

Late blind subjects: Blind subjects who have lost their vision after the age of 6 years will be included in the late blind group.

INCLUSION CRITERIA - SIGHTED CONTROLS:

Only compliant adult healthy volunteers between the ages of 18 and 80 years with no history of neurological and psychiatric illness who are able to concentrate and to perform simple attention tasks are eligible.

Healthy sighted (normal or corrected-to normal vision) matched in age, sex, and handedness to the early blind subjects.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

Any current medical or surgical condition or psychiatric or neurological illness.

Blind subjects who can discriminate colors and shapes will be excluded from the entire study.

There are no specific exclusion criteria for Experiment 1.

For Experiment 2, any individual who is on medication with the potential to influence nervous system function, who has a history of surgery with metallic implants or a known history of metallic particles in the eye, a cardiac pacemaker, intracardiac lines, neural stimulators, cochlear implants, or a history of drug abuse, or who is pregnant will be excluded.

Special Instructions: Currently Not Provided

Keywords:

Cross-Modal Plasticity

Functional MRI

Behavior

Memory

Blind

Recruitment Keywords:

Blindness

Healthy Volunteer

HV

Conditions:

Blindness

Investigational Drug(s):

None

Investigational Device(s):

None

Contacts:

Patient Recruitment and Public Liaison Office
Building 61
10 Cloister Court
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-4754
Toll Free: 1-800-411-1222
TTY: 301-594-9774 (local),1-866-411-1010 (toll free)
Fax: 301-480-9793

Electronic Mail:prpl@mail.cc.nih.gov

Citations:

Amedi A, et al. Visuo-haptic object-related activation in the ventral visual pathway. Nat Neurosci. 2001 Mar;4(3):324-30. PMID: 11224551

Amedi A, et al. Early 'visual' cortex activation correlates with superior verbal memory performance in the blind. Nat Neurosci. 2003 Jul;6(7):758-66. PMID: 12808458

Bailes SM, Lambert RM. Cognitive aspects of haptic form recognition by blind and sighted subjects. Br J Psychol. 1986 Nov;77 ( Pt 4):451-8. PMID: 3801790

• Questions about participating in a study, please contact the Patient Recruitment and Public Liaison Office, CC.
• Technical questions regarding the Clinical Center web site, please contact the Department of Networks and Applications, CC.

Search The Studies | Help | Questions |
Clinical Center Home | NIH Home

Warren Grant Magnuson Clinical Center (CC)
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Bethesda, Maryland 20892. Last update: 10/21/2004