PROJECTS

TVSLab has been investigating the use of noninvasive brain stimulation in relation to deprivations in oculomotor function. TVSLab is currently conducting a pilot study to assess what area of the brain and which noninvasive brain stimulation treatment is most effective at improving symptomatic convergence insufficiency.

Perceptual learning is a form of repetitive training to enhance sensory or motor perception. It runs on the principle that more you train the more you get better. Within TVSLab we have been using perceptual learning to enhance peripheral vision in patients with central vision loss (macular degeneration) and vision in general in patients with "lazy eye" (amblyopia).

TVSLab has been collaborating with other partners institutes both in the USA and Canada to investigate the effect of early visual deprivation on the overall neural processing of vision. We use a variety of psychophysical and neuroimaging techniques to assess both behavioural vision and neural connectivity within the visual cortex. Our preliminary studies have show some behavioural changes in perceiving moving objects. Currently, we are exploring the neural locus which might be attributed to that abnormal motion perception.

Amblyopia in adults is long misunderstood. Until very recently, it was thought that human brain loses its plasticity after a certain critical period (9-12 years of age). However, recent studies have used a variety of perceptual learning and non-invasive brain stimulation techniques to harness brain plasticity in such individuals. TVSLab is currently conducting a proof-of-concept studies to assess the efficacy of a hybrid treatment modality, involving non-invasive brain stimulations and perceptual learning for amblyopia.

The lab focuses in exploring the neural processing of motion and form perception in human. In addition, attentive motion tracking has been another key area we are intrigued in. We use a variety of psychophysical tasks to assess performances on such complex visual processing in children and adults with a history of normal or abnormal neurodevelopment. In addition, we also use non-invasive brain stimulation techniques to modulate cortical functions.

Binocular rivalry is a perceptual phenomenon in which our vision alternates when presented with 2 different images. This phenomenon is attributed to multiple brain areas within the striate and extra-striate visual cortex. Understanding this alternation rate and binocular rivalry in general has a significant implication in amblyopia studies. Within TVSLab, we are trying to manipulate the visual cortex using non-invasive transcranial brain stimulation and aerobic exercise.