Mode Switching Training for Color Perception Improvement

Overseen By Stephen A Engel, Ph.D.

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Minnesota

Disqualifiers: Abnormal color vision

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 5 days

75 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

Participants will be given experience wearing colored lenses that add a tint to the environment. Changes in visual perception and neural processing that arise as a result of this experience will be measured. These are expected as participants learn to switch to "colored lenses mode" where the effects of the lenses are discounted and colors appear more normal as soon as the lenses are put on.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

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

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Mode Switching Training for improving color perception?

Research shows that Mode Switching Training helps the brain quickly adjust to changes in color environments. People who wore red glasses daily reported that colors appeared more normal over time, suggesting the treatment can improve color perception. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is Mode Switching Training for Color Perception Improvement safe for humans?

The research on Mode Switching Training, where participants wore red glasses for several hours over multiple days, did not report any safety concerns or adverse effects, suggesting it is generally safe for humans. ^{1 2 4 5 6}

How does Mode Switching Training differ from other treatments for color perception improvement?

Mode Switching Training is unique because it involves training the visual system to rapidly adapt to changes in color environments, like wearing tinted glasses, by learning to switch visual modes. This approach is different from other treatments as it focuses on enhancing the brain's natural ability to adjust to color changes through repeated exposure, rather than using medications or external devices. ^{1 2 4 7 8}

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for people with normal or corrected-to-normal vision who have little experience with tinted environments and no known visual disorders. It's not suitable for those with abnormal color vision.

Inclusion Criteria

Little to no experience in tinted environments (e.g. dark rooms, swimming goggles)

My vision is normal, or corrected to normal with contacts.

No known visual disorders

Exclusion Criteria

Abnormal color vision

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1 week

Treatment

Participants wear tinted lenses for 1 hour at a time, 5 times per day, for 5 days. Perception and neural function are measured before and after this experience.

5 days

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in visual perception and neural processing after the intervention.

1 week

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Mode Switching Training

Trial Overview The study tests how wearing colored lenses affects perception and brain processing, by training participants to quickly adjust to 'colored lenses mode' where colors are perceived normally despite the tint.

Participant Groups

Group I: Red Room Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants are tested in a red-illuminated room

Group II: Neuroimaging Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Functional MRI and Electroencephelography data are acquired for multiple test colors

Group III: Gradual Change Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants view a gradual change in tint, presented on a head-mounted display

Group IV: Dark Room Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants are tested in a completely darkened room

Group V: Color Contrast Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Test patch is surrounded spatially by different colors

Group VI: Color Adaptation Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Test patch is surrounded temporally (preceded) by different colors

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Minnesota

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,459

Recruited

1,623,000+

References

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Visual mode switching: Improved general compensation for environmental color changes requires only one exposure per day. [2022]

2. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Visual mode switching learned through repeated adaptation to color. [2021]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Influence of serial practice on Farnsworth-Munsell 100-hue scores: the learning effect. [2018]

4. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Colour tuning in human visual cortex measured with functional magnetic resonance imaging. [2022]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Poster Session: Learned rapid adaptation to environmental color changes generalize to a large range of colors. [2023]

6. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Lighting Environment, Its Metrology, and Non-visual Responses. [2021]

7. Italy pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Visual perceptual learning: a sign of neural plasticity at early stages of visual processing. [2019]

8. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Color constancy. [2011]