Perceptual Learning Approaches for Cognitive Impairment

Recruiting at 2 trial locations

Overseen By Audrey A Carrillo, MA

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Wisconsin, Madison

Disqualifiers: Retinal pathology, Neurological disease, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

1140 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to explore how different types of training, including Perceptual Learning Approaches, can improve cognitive tasks like memory and problem-solving. Participants will engage in various training methods to determine which ones most effectively boost mental performance. The trial seeks individuals with normal vision and no known neurological issues. Those with good eyesight and no history of brain-related conditions may be suitable candidates for this study. As an unphased trial, it offers a unique opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking research in cognitive enhancement techniques.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?

Research has shown that many cognitive training programs, like those in this study, are generally safe for participants. For example, studies on Complex Features (CF) and other methods have demonstrated benefits without serious side effects. These programs often enhance thinking skills and assist with tasks like driving safely, without major adverse effects.

Endogenous Attention Training (EnAT) and Exogenous Attention Training (ExAT) have also yielded positive results. Research indicates that these programs can enhance attention and reduce boredom without causing harm.

Long Training (LT) and Mixed Difficulty (MD) are types of cognitive training studied in older adults. They are considered safe and help maintain mental abilities over time.

Multisensory Facilitation (MF) uses multiple senses to boost cognitive function. Studies suggest it can lessen symptoms like agitation in older adults with dementia, without significant risks.

Noise Training (NT) is another method that has been explored. It has improved attention without notable negative side effects, especially in older adults.

Parafoveal Training (PT) and Short Staircases (SS) are less common but also aim to improve specific mental skills. They have shown cognitive benefits without reported safety concerns.

Standard Perceptual Learning (SPL) and Stimulus Variety (SV) have been part of studies showing modest improvements in thinking skills. They are generally safe for participants, with no reports of significant adverse effects.

Finally, Training with Flankers (TWF) is used to improve conflict resolution skills and has been studied in older adults without major safety issues.

Overall, these cognitive training methods are well-tolerated and focus on improving mental skills without causing harm. Participants in similar studies have not reported serious adverse events, suggesting these methods are safe. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about this trial because it explores innovative perceptual learning methods to address cognitive impairment. Unlike traditional treatments that often rely on medication or generic cognitive exercises, these approaches personalize training to target specific brain functions. Techniques like Exogenous and Endogenous Attention Training are designed to enhance attention by focusing on external and internal cues, respectively. Multisensory Facilitation stands out by engaging multiple senses simultaneously, which may lead to more robust cognitive improvements. By exploring these varied methods, the trial aims to uncover which techniques are most effective in enhancing brain function and offer new hope for cognitive rehabilitation.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for cognitive impairment?

Research has shown that different types of brain training can improve thinking skills. In this trial, participants may receive Standard Perceptual Learning (SPL), which studies find can greatly enhance abilities in tasks like distinguishing fine details, thereby improving the brain's ability to process visual information through practice. Another arm of the trial involves Noise Training (NT), where some research suggests that training focused on listening can boost attention and help people understand speech better in noisy environments. Participants may also undergo Training with Flankers (TWF), where evidence indicates that practicing certain tasks can improve movement and thinking skills, especially when combined with physical exercise. Lastly, Multisensory Facilitation (MF) is another treatment option in this trial, shown to calm agitation and improve thinking skills, particularly in older adults with dementia, by engaging multiple senses. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

Who Is on the Research Team?

C. Shawn Green

Principal Investigator

University of Wisconsin, Madison

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for individuals between 18 and 30 years old with corrected vision of at least 20/40. They should not have any history of retinal pathology or neurological disease.

Inclusion Criteria

Corrected vision of 20/40 or better (as assessed with an eye chart)

I do not have any eye or neurological diseases.

Exclusion Criteria

I have a diagnosed eye condition affecting my retina.

Corrected vision of 20/40 or worse

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Training

Participants undergo perceptual learning tasks across 12 separate conditions to assess the effects of training on cognitive and perceptual performance.

5-8 weeks

Multiple sessions (in-person or virtual)

Crossover Training

Younger cohort participants undergo a crossover design to train on two tasks sequentially to examine learning and generalization.

5-8 weeks

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after training, with assessments on transfer to visual search, auditory attention, and reading.

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Complex Features (CF)
• Endogenous Attention Training (EnAT)
• Exogenous Attention Training (ExAT)
• Long Training (LT)
• Mixed Difficulty (MD)
• Multisensory Facilitation (MF)
• No Contact Control
• Noise Training (NT)
• Parafoveal Training (PT)
• Short Staircases (SS)
• Standard Perceptual Learning (SPL)
• Stimulus Variety (SV)
• Training with Flankers (TWF)

Trial Overview

The study tests various training tasks (like mixed difficulty, attention training, noise training) to see how they affect perceptual learning in people with cognitive impairment. It aims to understand which methods improve perception skills the most.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: OA5 - No Contact Control Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants in older cohort will complete NCC condition.

Group II: OA4 - Stimulus Variety Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants in older cohort will complete SV condition.

Group III: OA3 - Training with Flankers Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants in older cohort will complete TWF condition.

Group IV: OA2 - Noise Training Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants in older cohort will complete NT condition.

Group V: OA1 - Standard Perceptual Learning Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants in older cohort will complete SPL condition.

Group VI: No Contact Control Experimental Treatment 13 Interventions

Participants in younger cohort will complete NCC training during the first phase of training. In the cross-over they will then complete either SPL, LT, SS, MD, NT, TWF, PT, SV, CF, ExAT, EnAT, MF, NCC.

Group VII: C9 - Exogenous Attention Training (ExAT) Experimental Treatment 3 Interventions

Participants in younger cohort will complete ExAT training during the first phase of training. In the cross-over they will then complete either ExAT, PT, NCC.

Group VIII: C8a - Complex Features (CF) Experimental Treatment 3 Interventions

Participants in younger cohort will complete CF training during the first phase of training. In the cross-over they will then complete either CF, PT, NCC.

Group IX: C8 - Stimulus Variety (SV) Experimental Treatment 3 Interventions

Participants in younger cohort will complete SV training during the first phase of training. In the cross-over they will then complete either SV, PT, or NCC.

Group X: C7 - Parafoveal Training (PT) Experimental Treatment 7 Interventions

Participants in younger cohort will complete PT training during the first phase of training. In the cross-over they will then complete either PT, SV, CF, ExAT, EnAT, MF, or NCC.

Group XI: C6 - Training with Flankers (TWF Experimental Treatment 3 Interventions

Participants in younger cohort will complete TWF training during the first phase of training. In the cross-over they will then complete eitherTWF, SPL, or NCC.

Group XII: C5 - Noise Training (NT) Experimental Treatment 3 Interventions

Participants in younger cohort will complete NT training during the first phase of training. In the cross-over they will then complete either NT, SPL, or NCC.

Group XIII: C4 - Mixed Difficulty (MD) Experimental Treatment 3 Interventions

Participants in younger cohort will complete MD training during the first phase of training. In the cross-over they will then complete either MD, SPL, or NCC.

Group XIV: C3 - Short Staircases (SS) Experimental Treatment 3 Interventions

Participants in younger cohort will complete SS training during the first phase of training. In the cross-over they will then complete either SS, SPL, or NCC.

Group XV: C2 - Long Training (LT) Experimental Treatment 3 Interventions

Participants in younger cohort will complete LT training during the first phase of training. In the cross-over they will then complete either LT, SPL, or NCC.

Group XVI: C11 - Multisensory Facilitation (MF) Experimental Treatment 3 Interventions

Participants in younger cohort will complete MF training during the first phase of training. In the cross-over they will then complete either MF, PT, NCC.

Group XVII: C10 - Endogenous Attention Training (EnAT) Experimental Treatment 3 Interventions

Participants in younger cohort will complete EnAT training during the first phase of training. In the cross-over they will then complete either EnAT, PT, NCC.

Group XVIII: C1 - Standard Perceptual Learning (SPL) Experimental Treatment 7 Interventions

Participants in younger cohort will complete SPL training during the first phase of training. In the cross-over they will then complete either SPL, LT, SS, MD, NT, TWF, or NCC.

Complex Features (CF) is already approved in European Union, United States for the following indications:

Approved in European Union as Lynparza for:

• Breast cancer
• Ovarian cancer
• Fallopian tube cancer
• Peritoneal cancer
• Pancreatic cancer
• Prostate cancer
• Endometrial cancer

Approved in United States as Lynparza for:

• Ovarian, fallopian tube, and primary peritoneal cancer
• Breast cancer
• Prostate cancer
• Pancreatic cancer

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Wisconsin, Madison

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,249

Recruited

3,255,000+

National Eye Institute (NEI)

Collaborator

Trials

572

Recruited

1,320,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Audio-visual perceptual training significantly improved cognitive processing in older adults, as indicated by increased P300 amplitudes after training, suggesting that such training can enhance cognitive abilities in this age group.

In contrast, the same training did not produce significant changes in cognitive processing in younger adults, highlighting the potential for cognitive improvement specifically in older individuals through targeted training.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Audio-Visual Spatiotemporal Perceptual Training Enhances the P300 Component in Healthy Older Adults. Yang, W., Guo, A., Li, Y., et al.[2020]

Perceptual learning is not just about improving how we perceive stimuli; it also involves changes in cognitive skills like attention and memory, which can be influenced by training on simple tasks.

Training can enhance performance by increasing the signal-to-noise ratio in perceptual tasks, addressing both sensory and non-sensory factors that affect decision-making, suggesting broader applications for diverse populations beyond just highly motivated students.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Perceptual learning: top to bottom. Amitay, S., Zhang, YX., Jones, PR., et al.[2022]

Perceptual learning leads to lasting improvements in how organisms perceive and respond to their environment, facilitated by mechanisms such as attention weighting, imprinting, differentiation, and unitization.

These mechanisms help enhance perception by focusing attention on important features, developing specialized receptors, distinguishing similar stimuli, and simplifying complex tasks into single units, as supported by research across various fields including cognitive psychology and neuroscience.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Perceptual learning. Goldstone, RL.[2019]

A systematic review of 27 studies found that in-task feedback training can significantly improve multisensory integration performance in neurotypical adults, suggesting that targeted training can enhance sensory processing.

While exercise-based training shows promise for improving multisensory integration, more research is needed to explore its effectiveness and generalizability, especially in clinical populations and individuals with neurodevelopmental conditions.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Can We Train Multisensory Integration in Adults? A Systematic Review. O'Brien, J., Mason, A., Chan, J., et al.[2023]

Interactive auditory training can lead to significant short-term improvements in sentence recognition in quiet environments for adults with normal hearing, as shown in a study with 58 participants across two experiments.

However, the benefits of this training were limited to sentence recognition, with no significant improvements observed in other perceptual tasks, suggesting that the training method may need refinement for broader efficacy.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Auditory Learning Using a Portable Real-Time Vocoder: Preliminary Findings. Casserly, ED., Pisoni, DB.[2018]

Older individuals (aged over 65) can significantly improve their visual performance through perceptual learning methods, specifically when trained with near-threshold stimuli, achieving results comparable to younger individuals.

The improvements in visual tasks were maintained for at least 3 months and were specific to the trained location, indicating that perceptual learning can effectively enhance visual abilities in older adults without merely relying on practice effects.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Perceptual learning, aging, and improved visual performance in early stages of visual processing. Andersen, GJ., Ni, R., Bower, JD., et al.[2021]

A targeted cognitive training approach improved the ability to ignore distractions in both older rats and humans, leading to better discrimination abilities and fewer distraction-related errors.

Neural responses to distractors were reduced in the auditory cortex of both species, indicating that the training enhanced cognitive control and distractor suppression, which also positively impacted working memory and sustained attention.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Adaptive training diminishes distractibility in aging across species. Mishra, J., de Villers-Sidani, E., Merzenich, M., et al.[2022]

Training with feature-based attention (FBA) significantly enhances visual perceptual learning (VPL) by allowing improvements to transfer to different locations while maintaining specificity for the trained orientation.

The benefits of FBA in VPL are long-lasting, with effects persisting for up to one year, suggesting its potential for enhancing visual rehabilitation training protocols.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Feature-based attention enables robust, long-lasting location transfer in human perceptual learning. Hung, SC., Carrasco, M.[2021]

In a study involving 100 male military volunteers (55 non-musicians and 45 professional musicians), both groups performed similarly in recognizing speech in quiet environments, indicating no advantage for musical training in those conditions.

However, musicians significantly outperformed non-musicians in recognizing speech in noisy situations, suggesting that musical practice enhances the ability to discern speech amidst background noise.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[The effect of musical practice on speech recognition in quiet and noisy situations]. Soncini, F., Costa, MJ.[2019]

A cognitive training intervention over 8 weeks significantly improved selective attention in 66 healthy older adults compared to a control group, indicating its efficacy in enhancing cognitive function.

Participants in the training group not only improved in the targeted attention skills but also showed benefits in other cognitive areas like processing speed and dual-task performance, suggesting broader cognitive enhancements from the training.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A cognitive training intervention improves modality-specific attention in a randomized controlled trial of healthy older adults. Mozolic, JL., Long, AB., Morgan, AR., et al.[2021]

Perceptual learning can significantly improve sensory and attentional functions in adults, demonstrating that the adult brain retains a high level of plasticity, contrary to previous beliefs that this ability was limited to early development.

New training methods in perceptual learning can enhance the transfer of skills to untrained tasks, offering promising treatment options for neurological conditions that affect sensory processing and attention.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The therapeutic benefits of perceptual learning. Deveau, J., Lovcik, G., Seitz, AR.[2020]

Older listeners, even those with mild-to-moderate high-frequency hearing loss, can still effectively engage in lexically guided perceptual learning, indicating that this ability is resilient despite hearing challenges.

The study found that attention-switching control influences perceptual learning; listeners with poorer attention-switching control experienced a stronger learning effect, suggesting that reliance on acoustic information varies with attentional abilities.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The role of attentional abilities in lexically guided perceptual learning by older listeners. Scharenborg, O., Weber, A., Janse, E.[2018]

Perceptual learning leads to long-term improvements in sensory systems through repeated practice, but there are ongoing debates about the specific stages and types of training that influence this learning.

The review highlights the need for further research into how neural processing changes during learning, the role of feedback on performance, and the effects of different training methods on perceptual improvement.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Recent progress in perceptual learning research. Sasaki, Y., Náñez, JE., Watanabe, T.[2021]

Starting perceptual training at an intermediate level of difficulty, rather than too easy or too hard, leads to better learning outcomes in auditory discrimination tasks, as shown in two experiments with individualized difficulty levels.

These findings suggest that training regimens for perceptual skills should be carefully designed to include a 'sweet spot' of difficulty to optimize learning and rehabilitation effectiveness.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Easy-to-hard effects in perceptual learning depend upon the degree to which initial trials are "easy". Wisniewski, MG., Church, BA., Mercado, E., et al.[2023]

Citations

1.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6703970/

Complex Walking Tasks and Risk for Cognitive Decline in ...

Results: Cognitive decliners were 52.5% of the sample and on average were slower for all walking tasks compared to maintainers. In models adjusted for ...

2.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11837731/

Clinically meaningful outcomes in Alzheimer's disease and ...

A workshop exploring clinically meaningful changes in the context of Alzheimer's Disease and Alzheimer's Disease Related Dementias (AD/ADRD) clinical trials.

3.

link.springer.com

link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12553-025-01006-1

Cognitive feature evaluation for disease progression in ...

The results of this study identified important relationships between cognitive features in the ADAS-Cog and provide a clear example of the value ...

4.

bmjopen.bmj.com

bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/6/e090767

Effectiveness of cognitive stimulation for individuals with ...

Our findings suggest a significant positive impact of CS on cognitive function among individuals with MCI. CS encourages the active involvement of individuals ...

5.

bmcmedicine.biomedcentral.com

bmcmedicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12916-024-03252-y

Predicting cognitive scores from wearable-based digital ...

The objective of this study was to evaluate the predictive ability of digital physiological features, based on sensor data from wrist-worn wearables,

6.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4487932/

Effects of Different Types of Cognitive Training on Cognitive ...

We explored the effects of three different types of cognitive training on the cognitive function, brain structure, and driving safety of the elderly. Methods.

7.

sciencedirect.com

sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2274580725001517

Comparative efficacy of cognitive training modalities in ...

In the pairwise meta-analysis, CST demonstrated more pronounced improvements in language function and immediate memory when compared to PC/AC. Moreover, CST was ...

8.

frontiersin.org

frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00709/full

A Systematic Review of Commercial Cognitive Training ...

Data Extraction and Quality Assessment ... Cognitive training improves sleep quality and cognitive function among older adults with insomnia.

9.

mdpi.com

mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/6/4941

Does Cognitive Training Reduce Falls across Ten Years?

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of cognitive training on the risk of experiencing a fall across 10 years.

10.

bmcnurs.biomedcentral.com

bmcnurs.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12912-025-03987-w

An integrative review of cognitive workload assessment for ...

A systematic search of cognitive workload assessment in safety management was conducted across PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and EBSCO from the ...