Lihui Wang

Research Scientist at Experimental Psychology, Institute of Psychology at the Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg

Retinal implants consist of electronic chips that are implanted into the eye in blind patients to replace the function of the underlying receptor cells and to stimulate retinal nerve cells. In this way, a visual impression can be restored, but is so limited that the recognition of objects or scenes does not succeed easily. We now want to develop a training program for these patients that enables them to learn as quickly as possible to recognize objects based on their reduced retinal implant-mediated vision.

In order to do this, we try to optimize the visualization of the vision with retina implants (RI) in different ways. Great importance is attached to the fact that object recognition generalizes to new, previously unlearned object views in order to ensure a transfer of learning to everyday situations. In order to minimize unnecessary burdens on the patients, the development of the training program is initially carried out on healthy subjects who try to recognize object images that simulate vision using retinal implants by means of reduced resolution and specific distortions.

The ultimate goal of the project is to develop a computer-based training program for RI patients, which will help patients to get the most out of their recovered vision as soon as possible after implantation.

Keywords: Retinal implants – Perceptual learning – Object recognition – Simulated prosthetic vision

Location: OVGU (FNW)

Webpage: Link