Adaptation to a simulated central scotoma during visual search training

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Neuroscience
• Visual Science

Background:

• Patients with central scotoma often utilize a preferred retinal locus (PRL) for daily tasks.
• The mechanisms and timeline of PRL development remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the process of preferred retinal locus (PRL) development.
• To examine the impact of simulated central scotoma on visual search performance.
• To explore potential visual training protocols for PRL facilitation.

Main Methods:

• A gaze-contingent display simulated an isotropic central scotoma in healthy participants.
• Participants practiced a challenging visual search task with the simulated scotoma.
• Eye movements and search reaction times were analyzed before and after extensive training.

Main Results:

• Initial exposure to the simulated scotoma significantly increased search time and disorganized eye movements.
• After 1782 training trials, search performance improved to within 25% of normal foveal search.
• Training led to reduced fixation counts, fewer repeated fixations, and consistent use of a specific retinal area near the scotoma border.

Conclusions:

• Simulated central scotoma training enhances visual search efficiency and promotes the development of a functional PRL.
• These findings offer insights into natural PRL development and suggest effective visual rehabilitation strategies for patients with central vision loss.