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OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT02980432

Verticality Perception Assessed by the Haptic Vertical

The investigators previously shown that a rotating optokinetic stimulus results in shifts of the subjective visual vertical in healthy human subjects. However, the origin of these shifts is still poorly understood. Both torsional displacement of the eyes and a shift in the internal estimate of direction of gravity have been proposed as potential explanations. Here the investigators use a vision-independent setup to differentiate between these two hypotheses, predicting no impact of a rotating stimulus on the subjective haptic vertical if torsion triggers the shift.

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Key information

Conditions

Healthy Behavior Orientation, Spatial Spatial Behavior

Age range

18 year–65 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University Hospital Zurich, Dept. of Neurology

Zurich, Canton of Zurich, 8091, Switzerland

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • ages 18-65 years
  • informed consent
  • absence of exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria

  • peripheral-vestibular deficit
  • disturbed consciousness
  • history of sensory deficits
  • visual field deficits
  • other neurological or systemic disorder which can cause dementia or cognitive dysfunction
  • intake of antidepressants, sedatives, or neuroleptics
  • pregnancy, unless excluded by a negative pregnancy test
  • known neck pain or status post neck trauma

Treatment and study plan

changes in whole-body roll position and visual/haptic stimuli presented

Other

In different whole-body roll positions subjects will be presented a luminous line or a rod in combination with a moving or stationary background. Participants will be asked to align the line or the rod along perceived direction of gravity.

Primary outcomes

  1. Adjustment errors of aligning a rod along perceived direction of gravity while an optokinetic stimulus is presented.

    Time frame: 60 minutes

    This outcome parameter focuses on the adjustment errors of the subjective haptic vertical while presenting a visual bias (i.e. an optokinetic rotatory stimulus).

  2. Trial-to-trial variability of aligning a rod along perceived direction of gravity while an optokinetic stimulus is presented.

    Time frame: 60 minutes

    This outcome parameter focuses on the trial-to-trial variability of rod alignments along perceived direction of gravity when presenting a visual bias cue (i.e. an optokinetic rotatory stimulus).

Secondary outcomes

  1. Comparison of adjustment errors between the subjective haptic vertical and the subjective visual vertical

    Time frame: 60 minutes

  2. Comparison of adjustment errors of perceived vertical using the subjective haptic vertical with and without presenting an optokinetic stimulus

    Time frame: 60 minutes

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Zurich

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Verticality Perception - Modulatory Effect of a Rotating Optokinetic Stimulus on the Haptic Vertical in Healthy Human Subjects

Important dates

Study start
2016
Primary completion
2018
Study completion
2018
First posted
Dec 2, 2016
Registry last updated
Jul 2, 2018

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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