Brain study tests if sound or touch can replace sight

NCT ID NCT07450677

Not yet recruiting Knowledge-focused Sponsor: Stanford University Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study at Stanford University will test how the brain responds when visual information is turned into patterns of sound or touch. Two hundred blind and sighted participants will use special devices (BrainPort and AI Sight) for 5 weeks. Researchers will use brain scans and performance tasks to see how people learn and adapt to these sensory substitutions.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: Electrotactile display (BrainPort) and vision-to-sound converter (AI Sight) devices
What this could lead to: If successful, this could help improve assistive technologies for blind individuals by understanding how the brain processes non-visual sensory information.
What could go wrong: This is an early-stage observational study, not a treatment trial. It may not lead to any direct clinical benefit, and results may not apply to all types of blindness.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

blindness (disorder)

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

BLINDNESS

Contacts and locations

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Locations

Byers Eye Institute at Stanford University

Palo Alto, California, 94303, United States
LUCAS Center for Imaging

Stanford, California, 94305, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••

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