Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41788163›Full record

ArticleBrain communications2026

The unexpected sight: improvement of visual function following intracortical microstimulation of the human occipital cortex.

Arantxa Alfaro, Leili Soo, Dorota Waclawczyk, Roberto Morollón, Fabrizio Grani, Eduardo Fernandez

Registry-linked trialAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Brain communications, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT02983370 (Pilot Study for the Development of a Cortical Visual Neuroprosthesis for the Blind Based on Intracortical Microelectrodes), which is not on this map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT02983370 narecruitingnot on this map

Pilot Study for the Development of a Cortical Visual Neuroprosthesis for the Blind Based on Intracortical Microelectrodes

TypeinterventionalSponsorUniversidad Miguel Hernandez de ElcheRan2019 to 2028Enrolled5ConditionsBlindnessArmsMinicraniotomy
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Arantxa AlfaroHospital Vega Baja, Servicio Neurología, Orihuela 03314, Spain.
Leili SooBioengineering Institute and Cátedra Bidons Egara, University Miguel Hernández, Elche 03202, Spain.
Dorota WaclawczykBioengineering Institute and Cátedra Bidons Egara, University Miguel Hernández, Elche 03202, Spain.
Roberto MorollónBioengineering Institute and Cátedra Bidons Egara, University Miguel Hernández, Elche 03202, Spain.
Fabrizio GraniBioengineering Institute and Cátedra Bidons Egara, University Miguel Hernández, Elche 03202, Spain.
Eduardo FernandezCIBER Research Centre on Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER BBN), Madrid 28029, Spain.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7052-6011

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

We describe the case of a participant in a clinical trial investigating intracortical microstimulation of the visual cortex to provide a limited yet functional sense of vision to the profoundly blind. Prior to his formal enrolment, he was completely blind due to bilateral Non-arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy. Following the initiation of brain electrical microstimulation experiments, he experienced a remarkable recovery of spontaneous vision. The regained sight, after more than 3 years of complete blindness, enabled him to perceive light and motion again and even read large characters and words, enhancing his confidence in mobility and daily activities. We conducted several behavioural and electrophysiological tests to assess and quantify his vision over time.

Indexed as

artificial visionelectrical stimulationvisual cortex

Identifiers

PMID41788163
PMCPMC12957922

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.