About this trial
The goal of this randomized controlled trial is to investigate the effectiveness of non-invasive brain stimulation in treating adults with amblyopia. The main questions it aims to answer are:
1. What are the effects of non-invasive brain stimulation on neuronal plasticity in the visual cortex of adults with amblyopia, and does it produce lasting changes? 2. Do cumulative sessions of non-invasive brain stimulation influence neural plasticity and higher-order visual functions in adults with amblyopia?
The investigators hypothesize that non-invasive brain stimulation will show a positive cumulative effect after five (5) consecutive days of stimulation on visual perception and function in adults with amblyopia.
Participants will be randomized into one of two treatment groups:
1. High-frequency transcranial random noise stimulation (hf-tRNS). 2. Sham stimulation.
Researchers will compare baseline measurements of crowded visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, stereoacuity, phosphene thresholds, global motion perception, form pattern recognition and pattern-reversal visual evoked potentials (VEPs) to post-treatment measurements for each group.
Eligibility criteria
Qualifiers
Adults between 18 and 55 years of age
Formal diagnosis of amblyopia in one or both eyes of any etiology
Disqualifiers
History of optic nerve disease, including glaucoma and optic neuritis
History of neurological conditions, including demyelinating disease or stroke
Presence of metal or electronic implants in or on the body, including pacemakers
Taking medications that can affect normal neurological function, including antipsychotics, antiepileptics, and opioids
Trial design
Treatments tested in this trial
- Sham Transcranial Random Noise Stimulation
- High Frequency Transcranial Random Noise Stimulation