What side effects are associated with this type of intervention?

Repetition Lag Training, a cognitive training intervention aimed at improving face recollection in individuals with Developmental Prosopagnosia, does not have well-documented side effects in the provided context. Generally, cognitive training interventions are considered safe and are not typically associated with significant adverse effects. However, some individuals may experience temporary frustration or mental fatigue during the training process.

What prior FDA approvals exist?

There are no FDA-approved treatments specifically for face blindness (prosopagnosia) mentioned in the provided context. The cognitive training intervention, Repetition Lag Training, is being studied to improve face recognition in individuals with developmental prosopagnosia. This suggests that current research is focused on non-pharmacological, cognitive-based approaches rather than drug treatments.

What other types of research exist?

Promising novel alternatives to Repetition Lag Training for face blindness patients include: 1) Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) combined with cognitive training, which has shown potential in enhancing cognitive functions and could be adapted for face recognition. 2) Virtual Reality (VR) based training programs that provide immersive environments for repeated face exposure and recognition practice. 3) Machine learning-based personalized training programs that adapt to the individual's specific deficits and progress. These alternatives leverage advancements in neurostimulation, immersive technology, and personalized medicine to potentially improve face recognition abilities.

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Behavioral Intervention

Cognitive Training for Face Blindness

N/A

Recruiting

Research Sponsored by Harvard Medical School

Eligibility Criteria Checklist

Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial

Must have

Developmental prosopagnosic participants will be included if they are aged 18-65, have lifelong histories of face recognition difficulties that impact their everyday life (i.e., not associated with some event such as a stroke, seizure, etc), and score > 2 standard deviations below the mean on the famous faces test and Cambridge Face Memory Test. This is in line with our previous studies and others in the literature.

Be older than 18 years old

Must not have

Participants with a history of a significant neurological disorder including hydrocephalus, stroke, moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), severe neuromuscular diseases, or severe hypoxia due to cardiac arrest

Timeline

Screening 3 weeks

Treatment Varies

Follow Up 30 minutes

Awards & highlights

No Placebo-Only Group

Summary

This trial will test if practicing with exposure to faces can help people with face blindness (Developmental Prosopagnosia) improve their ability to recognize faces. Holistic face training has shown improvements in face processing for individuals with developmental prosopagnosia.

Who is the study for?

This trial is for adults aged 18-65 with Developmental Prosopagnosia, a condition where they have lifelong difficulties recognizing faces, impacting daily life. They must perform poorly on specific face recognition tests. Excluded are those with substance dependence, significant neurological disorders, sensory impairments, severe psychiatric conditions or recent participation in other interventions.

What is being tested?

The study is testing a cognitive training program designed to improve the ability to remember and recognize faces in people with Developmental Prosopagnosia. The effectiveness of this 'repetition lag training' will be measured against standard face recognition tests.

What are the potential side effects?

Since the intervention involves cognitive exercises rather than medication or invasive procedures, no physical side effects are expected. Participants may experience mental fatigue or frustration during the training.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

You may be eligible if you check “Yes” for the criteria below

Select...

I have always had trouble recognizing faces, not due to an event like a stroke, and I am between 18-65 years old.

Exclusion Criteria

You may be eligible for the trial if you check “No” for criteria below:

Select...

I have a history of serious brain or nerve conditions.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks3 visits

Treatment ~ Varies

Follow Up ~ 30 minutes

Screening ~ 3 weeks

Treatment ~ Varies

Follow Up ~30 minutes

This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and 30 minutes for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Study objectives can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.

Primary study objectives

Cambridge Face Memory Test

Face Perception

Face Recollection

Secondary study objectives

Self-reported face recognition

Awards & Highlights

No Placebo-Only Group

All patients enrolled in this study will receive some form of active treatment.

Trial Design

2Treatment groups

Experimental Treatment

Active Control

Group I: holistic face training + repetition lag trainingExperimental Treatment1 Intervention

Group II: waitlist controlActive Control1 Intervention

Treatment

First Studied

Drug Approval Stage

How many patients have taken this drug

cognitive training

2020

N/A

~650

0 / 2Eligibility criteria met

Research Highlights

Information in this section is not a recommendation. We encourage patients to speak with their healthcare team when evaluating any treatment decision.

Mechanism Of Action

Side Effect Profile

Prior Approvals

Other Research

Repetition Lag Training, a cognitive training method, aims to improve face recognition in individuals with face blindness (developmental prosopagnosia) by enhancing their ability to recall and recognize faces through repeated exposure and memory exercises. This training involves presenting faces at varying intervals to strengthen memory associations and improve the accuracy of face recollection. For face blindness patients, this is crucial as it can significantly enhance their social interactions and daily functioning by enabling them to recognize familiar faces more reliably, thereby reducing social anxiety and improving their quality of life.

The treatment of visual neglect using feedback of eye movements: a pilot study.Saliency-Aware Subtle Augmentation Improves Human Visual Search Performance in VR.Introspective awareness of oculomotor attentional capture.