Face Perception vs. Memory Training to Improve Face Recognition in Developmental Prosopagnosia

NCT05800782 | Unknown

• 1 other identifier: R01EY032510-02
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 72
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this study is to test the effectiveness of two experimental training programs aimed at improving face processing in developmental prosopagnosia (perception training, memory training) in comparison to an active control. The investigators will use a longitudinal design and randomize developmental prosopagnosics to three parallel arms: active control, perception training and memory training.

Conditions

Developmental Prosopagnosia

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Change in Cambridge Face Memory Test from baseline to post-training

  unfamiliar face learning/memory test, Cambridge Face Memory Test, minimum=0/maximum=72, higher is better performance

  baseline, within 2 weeks post-training (approximately 10 weeks after baseline), 12 weeks after training ends (approximately 22 weeks after baseline)

• Change in Face Perception from baseline to post-training

  computerized Benton Face Recognition Test, minimum=0/maximum=54, higher is better performance

  baseline, within 2 weeks post-training (approximately 10 weeks after baseline), 12 weeks after training ends (approximately 22 weeks after baseline)

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• Change in Face Recollection from baseline to post-training

  baseline, within 2 weeks post-training (approximately 10 weeks after baseline), 12 weeks after training ends (approximately 22 weeks after baseline)

• Change in Self-reported face recognition ability from baseline to post-training

  baseline, within 2 weeks post-training (approximately 10 weeks after baseline),12 weeks after training ends (approximately 22 weeks after baseline)

• Change in Eye processing ability from baseline to post-training

  baseline, within 2 weeks post-training (approximately 10 weeks after baseline), 12 weeks after training ends (approximately 22 weeks after baseline)

• Change in Holistic processing from baseline to post-training

  baseline, within 2 weeks post-training (approximately 10 weeks after baseline), 12 weeks after training ends (approximately 22 weeks after baseline)

• Change in NIH PROMIS Social functioning self-report from baseline to post-training

  baseline, within 2 weeks post-training (approximately 10 weeks after baseline), 12 weeks after training ends (approximately 22 weeks after baseline)

Study Arms (3)

Memory Training

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will perform 6 weeks of face memory training (5 x 40 min sessions/week) that targets enhancing encoding to improve face recollection. As training progresses, the repetition lags (spaces between repeated foil faces) and number of faces will increase.

Behavioral: Face Memory Training

Perception Training

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants will perform 6 weeks of face perception training (5 x 40 min sessions/week) that require discriminating faces based on internal features (e.g., eyebrow-eye distance). As training progresses, the faces will become more challenging and the face sizes will vary.

Behavioral: Face Perception Training

Active Control Training

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

Participants will perform 6 weeks of face perception training (5 x 40 min sessions/week) that require discriminating faces based on external facial features (e.g., hair). As training progresses, the faces will become more challenging and the face sizes will vary.

Behavioral: Placebo control training

Interventions

Face Memory Training BEHAVIORAL

Computer-based training using faces targeting face memory

Memory Training

Face Perception Training BEHAVIORAL

Computer-based training using faces targeting improving face perception

Perception Training

Placebo control training BEHAVIORAL

Computer-based training using faces not targeting improving face perception or memory

Active Control Training

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 90 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Aged 18-90
• Have lifelong histories of face recognition difficulties that impact everyday life (i.e., not associated with some event such as a stroke, seizure, etc)
• 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.

You may not qualify if:

• 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.
• Participants with a history of mild TBI or simple concussion will not be excluded as long as it was \> 6 months ago and as long as they have not had repeated concussions (\>5).
• Participants will be excluded if they have impairments that interfere with cognitive performance, such as uncorrected hearing or vision, lack of English proficiency, musculoskeletal or other issues.
• Additionally, participants will be excluded if they have psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, chronic intractable obsessive-compulsive disorder, or agoraphobia.
• Participants with a diagnosis of ADHD will be included as long as their medication has been consistent for the past 6 months.
• Participants who are currently dependent on alcohol or other substances will be excluded, as this may negatively impact cognitive performance.
• Participants who currently are, or within the last 6 months, participating in a behavioral or pharmacological intervention will be excluded.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Boston VA Research Institute, Inc.: lead

Study Sites (1)

VA Boston Healthcare System

Boston, Massachusetts, 02130, United States

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Prosopagnosia

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Agnosia; Perceptual Disorders; Neurobehavioral Manifestations; Neurologic Manifestations; Nervous System Diseases; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• Joseph DeGutis, Ph.D.

  Harvard Medical School/VA Boston Healthcare Systems

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Joseph DeGutis, Ph.D.

CONTACT

510-734-7705; degutis@wjh.harvard.edu

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Masking Details: Participants will not be told whether they are in the experimental or control conditions and all conditions will require discriminating faces.
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: There will be a pre assessment, 6 weeks of training/active control, then an immediate post assessment, and finally an assessment after a 12-week no-contact period

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 21, 2023
• First Posted: April 6, 2023
• Study Start: October 15, 2023
• Primary Completion: February 1, 2025
• Study Completion: February 21, 2025
• Last Updated: January 12, 2024

Record last verified: 2023-03

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: CSR, ANALYTIC CODE
• Time Frame: Once the VA Boston Healthcare System IRB approves sharing this information
• Access Criteria: The VA Boston Healthcare System IRB will also establish access criteria

Locations

US (1)