Case Studies on Navigational Impairments
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Case Studies on Navigational Impairments
IRAS ID
160898
Contact name
Joseph Mole
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Brain injury can result in loss of the ability to navigate through one’s environment, a condition referred to as ‘topographical disorientation’. There appear to be 4 types of topographical disorientation. The aim of this study is to assess a case of each type using the same tests, and in comparison to matched control groups. 4-6 adults who have acquired a brain injury will be assessed using the Cambridge Landmark Test. This is a cognitive test which involves looking at pictures of Cambridge landmarks and making decisions (e.g. is this place familiar?). Cases will also be assessed with a small number of other cognitive tests. For example, they may be asked to identify pictures of famous landmarks. Three patients have already been assessed at the Oliver Zangwill Centre (OZC) and the Raphael Medical Centre (RMC) as part of their routine care. Further patients will be recruited from OZC, RMC or Cambridge Cognitive Neuroscience Research Panel (CCNRP) at Medical Research Council (MRC) Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit (CBU) in Cambridge and assessed at the OZC or RMC. For each patient, a control group of 10 healthy adults will also be assessed on the same cognitive tests. Healthy adult participants will be recruited from established sources, including the MRC CBU Volunteer Panel and those replying to adverts posted at the OZC and Anglia Ruskin University.
Participants will be given no financial incentives but travel expenses will be paid. Each participant will be tested for approximately 2 hours by a trainee clinical psychologist or clinical Psychologist. This will enable us to compare test performance between patients and controls, to determine the extent to which patient performance is likely to have been affected by brain injury, and specificity of any deficits. This will allow us to test models of topographical disorientation.REC name
West Midlands - South Birmingham Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/WM/0019
Date of REC Opinion
31 Mar 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion