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Training-induced recovery of low-level vision followed by mid-level perceptual improvements in developmental object and face agnosia

Lev, Maria; Gilaie-Dotan, Sharon; Gotthilf-Nezri, Dana; Yehezkel, Oren; Brooks, Joseph L.; Perry, Anat; Bentin, Shlomo; Bonneh, Yoram; Polat, Uri

Training-induced recovery of low-level vision followed by mid-level perceptual improvements in developmental object and face agnosia Thumbnail


Authors

Maria Lev

Sharon Gilaie-Dotan

Dana Gotthilf-Nezri

Oren Yehezkel

Anat Perry

Shlomo Bentin

Yoram Bonneh

Uri Polat



Abstract

Long-term deprivation of normal visual inputs can cause perceptual impairments at various levels of visual function, from basic visual acuity deficits, through mid-level deficits such as contour integration and motion coherence, to high-level face and object agnosia. Yet it is unclear whether training during adulthood, at a post-developmental stage of the adult visual system, can overcome such developmental impairments. Here, we visually trained LG, a developmental object and face agnosic individual. Prior to training, at the age of 20, LG's basic and mid-level visual functions such as visual acuity, crowding effects, and contour integration were underdeveloped relative to normal adult vision, corresponding to or poorer than those of 5–6 year olds (Gilaie-Dotan, Perry, Bonneh, Malach & Bentin, 2009). Intensive visual training, based on lateral interactions, was applied for a period of 9 months. LG's directly trained but also untrained visual functions such as visual acuity, crowding, binocular stereopsis and also mid-level contour integration improved significantly and reached near-age-level performance, with long-term (over 4 years) persistence. Moreover, mid-level functions that were tested post-training were found to be normal in LG. Some possible subtle improvement was observed in LG's higher-order visual functions such as object recognition and part integration, while LG's face perception skills have not improved thus far. These results suggest that corrective training at a post-developmental stage, even in the adult visual system, can prove effective, and its enduring effects are the basis for a revival of a developmental cascade that can lead to reduced perceptual impairments.

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Dec 11, 2013
Online Publication Date Apr 4, 2014
Publication Date 2015-01
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal Developmental Science
Print ISSN 1363-755X
Publisher Wiley
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 18
Issue 1
Pages 50 - 64
DOI https://doi.org/10.1111/desc.12178
Keywords cognitive neuroscience, developmental and educational psychology
Publisher URL http://doi.org/10.1111/desc.12178

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