Anatomical and Functional Predictions of Blindsight Capabilities in Patients With Lateral Hemianopsia

Trial statusNot yet recruiting
Trial phaseNot listed
Trial typeObservational
Biological sexAll
Age18+
SponsorFondation Ophtalmologique Adolphe de Rothschild

About this trial

Homonymous lateral hemianopia (HLH) is characterized by loss of vision in half the visual field, and is the most common neurovisual disorder following stroke.

Numerous behavioral and neuroanatomical studies have focused on the phenomenon of blindsight, corresponding to patients' unconscious residual visual capacities in the blind hemifield. Cohort studies of patients have highlighted different types of blindsight, and a low occurrence of the phenomenon initially described: (1) type 1 blindsight (≈12%), unconscious visual abilities; (2) type 2 blindsight, visual abilities associated with sensations in the blind field (≈18%); (3) blindsense, sensations in the blind field without visual abilities (≈30%); and (4) no blindsight (≈40%). The heterogeneity of these blindsight abilities in the HLH population is closely related to patients' neuroanatomical and functional profiles.

In particular, resting-state functional imaging (r-fMRI) and default mode network analysis have highlighted a significant correlation between the degree of inter-hemispheric connection (between the healthy and injured hemispheres) and the rate of spontaneous visual field recovery. To our knowledge, this degree of functional connectivity has not yet been studied in relation to blindsight abilities. However, this functional MRI measurement tool represents a potential predictive factor for patients' residual performance in their blindsight field, in order to assess the level of visuo-cognitive impairment and, ultimately, to adapt care.

Eligibility criteria

This trial does not accept healthy volunteers

Qualifiers

Subjects aged 18 and over

with homonymous visual field amputation sequelae of a retrochiasmatic lesion of vascular origin (stroke), including the occipital region (primary visual cortex, optic radiations, associated occipital areas)

Requires follow-up brain MRI as part of treatment

Able to perform experimental tasks on computer

Disqualifiers

Severe neuropsychological disorders (language, memory, attention, vigilance, reasoning)

Severe ophthalmological disorders or visual acuity below 3/10 prior to stroke

Progressive ophthalmological disorders (cataract or glaucoma) likely to bias measurements

Major psychiatric or behavioral disorders making care impossible

Trial population

Patients over 18 years of age with homonymous lateral hemianopia undergoing cerebral MRI for follow-up and rehabilitation following stroke

Trial design

Design model

Case-only

Time perspective

Cross-sectional

Treatments tested in this trial

Not listed

Trial groups

No trial groups listed

Trial outcomes

Primary outcomes

1

Description of resting-state functional MRI measurement of the degree of Resting State Functional Connectivity (RSFC) between left and right hemisphere regions.

Comparison of the degree of inter-hemispheric Resting State Functional Connectivity between the four patient groups: absence of blindsight, type I blindsight, type II blindsight and blindsense.

Time frame
DAY 0

Secondary outcomes

1

Correlation between inter-hemispheric functional connectivity and blindsight performance

Resting-state functional MRI measurement of the degree of RSFC between left and right hemisphere regions of interest. Blindsight performance assessed by measuring the sensitivity of discrimination of spatial orientation (horizontal/vertical) of lines presented in the patient's blind field (blindsight).

Time frame
DAY 0
2

Density and intensity of visual and attentional default networks in each type of blindsight

Calculation (Graph Theory) of neural network matrices, weighted and created on the basis of correlations of activations in different brain regions during resting-state functional MRI measurement .

Time frame
DAY 0
3

Blindsight performance according to the laterality of the lesion (left or right hemisphere)

Blindsight performance assessed by measuring the sensitivity of discrimination of spatial orientation (horizontal/vertical) of lines presented in the patient's blind field (blindsight)

Time frame
DAY 0
4

Correlation between the level of inter-hemispheric functional connectivity and blindsight performance

Resting-state functional MRI measurement of the degree of Resting State Functional Connectivity (RSFC) between left and right hemisphere regions of interest, blindsight performance assessed by measuring the sensitivity of spatial orientation discrimination (horizontal/vertical) of lines presented in the blindsight field.

Time frame
DAY 0

Other outcomes

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