Maniglia, M. | Search bioRxiv

bioRxiv2026

PLFest: A Multi-Site Validation of an Open Platform for Visual and Cognitive Assessment

PurposeTo evaluate the feasibility, validity, and scalability of PLFest, an open-source, Unity-based, cross-platform application designed for standardized, multi-site visual and cognitive assessment and training. MethodsTwo hundred sixty participants (mean age = 23 years) were recruited across four university sites in the United States. Participants completed a battery of five visual assessments administered through PLFest, including visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, spatial frequency cutoff, contrast sensitivity at spatial-frequency cutoff, and visual search. Five cognitive assessments measuring visuospatial working memory, verbal working memory, fluid reasoning, inhibitory control, and selective attention were also administered. Descriptive statistics and performance distributions were examined and compared with normative data. ResultsVisual acuity and contrast sensitivity measures closely matched previously reported normative values obtained using established clinical and psychophysical methods. Spatial frequency cutoff and visual search tasks produced stable threshold estimates while showing substantial inter-individual variability. Performance across all cognitive assessments was consistent with published validation studies of the corresponding tasks. Across the full battery, adaptive procedures demonstrated reliable convergence and generated well-distributed performance measures without evidence of substantial floor or ceiling effects. Importantly, these findings were observed across four geographically distributed testing sites using standardized consumer-grade tablet hardware. ConclusionsPLFest provides reliable and scalable assessment of visual and cognitive function using portable consumer devices. The platform supports standardized data collection across distributed research settings while maintaining performance characteristics consistent with established laboratory and clinical benchmarks. These findings support the use of PLFest as a reliable framework for large-scale studies of vision and cognition. Translational RelevanceBy reducing dependence on specialized laboratory infrastructure and trained personnel, PLFest may facilitate broader access to visual and cognitive assessment, enabling large-scale research, screening, and future rehabilitation applications.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2025

Examining oculomotor behavior in central vision loss with a gaze-contingent display

Patients with central vision loss due to macular degeneration (MD) must rely on their peripheral vision for tasks normally performed by the fovea. Many patients develop a preferred retinal locus (PRL), an eccentric retinal location used as a substitute for the damaged fovea in tasks such as face recognition, navigation, and reading. However, the mechanisms underlying PRL development remain elusive, and no single hypothesis fully explains its characteristics. Investigations into PRL development are hindered by oculomotor assessments, which often focus on fixation ability while neglecting other eye movement characteristics and potentially conflating different behaviors over time. In previous work, we introduced a series of oculomotor metrics in cases of simulated central vision loss, demonstrating that complex profiles of eye movement behavior can be extracted from a simple visual task. Here we present longitudinal data from 10 patients with MD as evidence of the feasibility of using these metrics to characterize different profiles of eye movements following central vision loss. Consistent with findings in healthy individuals using artificial scotoma, the metrics reveal substantial individual differences in behavior, both at baseline and after visual training. Overall, patients exhibit significantly higher saccadic re-referencing than controls, despite larger inter-individual differences. These metrics provide a detailed evaluation of oculomotor behavior in patients with central vision loss and offer a valuable tool for assessing progress in training protocols.

neuroscience↗