Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Via Venezia 8, 35131 Padova, Italy; Human Inspired Technology Research Centre, University of Padova, Via Luzzati 4, 35121 Padova, Italy.
Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Via Venezia 8, 35131 Padova, Italy.
Neuropsychologia. 2018 Jun;114:125-133. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2018.04.017. Epub 2018 Apr 25.
Amblyopia is a neuro-developmental disorder characterised by several functional impairments in spatial vision even with the best optical correction. There is evidence that extensive perceptual training can improve visual acuity (VA) and contrast sensitivity (CS) in adults with amblyopia. In the present study, we assessed the efficacy of a recently developed neuro-modulatory technique (i.e., high-frequency transcranial random noise stimulation; hf-tRNS) combined with a short perceptual training in adults with amblyopia. One group of ten participants underwent a short (8 sessions) monocular training in a contrast detection task with concurrent hf-tRNS, whereas another group of ten participants underwent the same training protocol but with Sham stimulation (control group). The training consisted of a two-interval forced choice (2IFC) contrast detection task in which participants had to detect the presence of a central Gabor patch flanked by two high-contrast collinear Gabors (lateral masking). The results showed a significant and similar improvement of CS for both groups, suggesting that hf-tRNS is not crucial for the improvement of CS. However, for VA, a significant improvement was only observed in the hf-tRNS group with a mean VA improvement of 0.19 LogMAR in the amblyopic eye. Most notably, this improvement was achieved after eight training sessions. The results are discussed in terms of the influence of hf-tRNS on short-term neural plasticity.
弱视是一种神经发育障碍，即使经过最佳光学矫正，患者的空间视觉也会出现多种功能损伤。有证据表明，广泛的知觉训练可以提高弱视成年人的视力（VA）和对比敏感度（CS）。在本研究中，我们评估了一种新开发的神经调节技术（即高频经颅随机噪声刺激；hf-tRNS）与短期知觉训练相结合对弱视成人的疗效。一组 10 名参与者接受了单眼对比度检测任务的短期（8 次）训练，并同时接受 hf-tRNS，而另一组 10 名参与者接受了相同的训练方案，但使用假刺激（对照组）。训练包括两间隔强制选择（2IFC）对比度检测任务，参与者必须检测中央 Gabor 斑块是否存在，两侧是两个高对比度的共线 Gabor（侧向掩蔽）。结果表明，两组 CS 均有显著且相似的改善，表明 hf-tRNS 对 CS 的改善并非至关重要。然而，对于 VA，仅在 hf-tRNS 组观察到显著改善，弱视眼的平均 VA 提高了 0.19 LogMAR。值得注意的是，这种改善是在经过八次训练后实现的。结果根据 hf-tRNS 对短期神经可塑性的影响进行了讨论。
