'I can hear a building over there'
Researchers found blind echolocators' brains process clicks and echoes in the 'visual' part of their brain, enabling independence. Sighted controls did not show similar echo-related activity.
Blindness
Articles tagged with Blindness
'Guide vests' -- robotic navigation aids for the visually impaired
Researchers at USC are creating a high-tech navigation system to help the visually impaired, including a guide vest that provides tactile messages to alert users about objects in their path. The system uses cameras and SLAM software to build maps of the environment, enabling users to avoid falls and injuries.
'I can hear a building over there' -- researchers study blind people's ability to echolocate
Blind individuals who have learned to echolocate use the 'visual' part of their brain to process clicks and echoes, allowing them to sense their surroundings and perform tasks like mountain biking and basketball. This study provides insight into the neural basis of natural human echolocation in blind experts.
Columbia researchers work to prevent blindness from age-related macular degeneration
Researchers at Columbia University Medical Center have discovered a modified form of vitamin A that slows the formation of detrimental dimers, leading to improved vision and ocular health in mice with Stargardt's disease. The study provides hope for treating age-related macular degeneration and Stargardt's disease.
Practice, not loss of sight, improves sense of touch in the blind: study
Daily practice enhances tactile sensitivity in blind participants, with proficient Braille readers showing exceptional performance. The study's findings challenge the long-held assumption that vision loss alone contributes to improved tactile abilities.
Single bioptic telescope for low vision driving may not obscure road view of second eye
A recent study by Schepens Eye Research Institute found that a bioptic telescope on one lens of glasses used for low vision driving may not prevent the wider view of the road with the second eye. The study, published in May 2011 Archives of Ophthalmology, suggests that individuals wearing such telescopes can detect targets in the area ...
Glaucoma patients report a wide range of emotional and psychological changes
Researchers found that glaucoma patients worried about going blind, managing their condition, and affecting their families. They also valued peer support and internet information, but often struggled to understand it due to declining vision.
Neuropsychologist proves that some blind people 'see' with their ears
A study by Dr. Olivier Collignon found that the brain's visual cortex can rewire itself to process sound information in people born blind. The research suggests that the brain's plasticity allows it to adapt and develop new functions even without visual experience.
MIT-- parts of brain can switch functions
In people born blind, parts of the visual cortex are recruited for language processing, overturning the idea that language processing occurs in highly specialized brain regions. The study suggests that brain function is more dynamic and adaptable than previously thought.
Brain doesn't need vision at all in order to 'read' material
A study by Hebrew University and French researchers reveals that the brain's Visual Word Form Area is co-opted for reading regardless of sensory input modality. Brain scans show identical activity patterns in blind and sighted readers, suggesting a task-oriented approach to reading.
The blind also have a Stripe of Gennari
Researchers found that the Stripe of Gennari develops in blind individuals from birth and remains intact, suggesting a role in processing tactile stimuli. This could contribute to improved Braille reading abilities and enhanced sense of touch.
Study suggests statins may prevent diabetic-related blindness
Researchers found that statin drugs can prevent free radicals from killing nerves important to maintaining vision in people with diabetes. The study suggests that oral treatment with atorvastatin can restore proper levels of nerve growth factor and preserve neurons in the retina.
The brain as a 'task machine'
Researchers found that the brain area responsible for reading is active in blind individuals who read Braille, challenging the idea of sensory specialization. The study suggests that the brain is a task-oriented system that can adapt to new tasks without prior experience.
Pivotal discoveries in age-related macular degeneration
A team of researchers led by Dr. Jayakrishna Ambati has discovered a molecular mechanism implicated in geographic atrophy, the major cause of untreatable blindness in the industrialized world. The study identified Alu RNA toxicity as the underlying cause and developed two potential therapies to prevent geographic atrophy.
Melanopsin looks on the bright side of life
Researchers discovered that melanopsin-expressing retinal ganglion cells contribute to conventional image-forming vision, particularly brightness perception. This finding suggests these cells could support vision in people with advanced retinal degeneration.
Younger brains are easier to rewire
Researchers found that brains of congenitally blind individuals showed greater reorganization of the visual cortex, which processes motion, compared to sighted individuals who became blind at a later age. This suggests that early life plays a crucial role in shaping brain function and that retraining may be possible.
Beta carotene and retinitis pigmentosa
Researchers tested beta carotene's effects on retinitis pigmentosa, a cluster of hereditary disorders causing incurable blindness. One-third of patients showed improved visual function after taking the nutrient for 90 days, while two-thirds had no response.
GUMC researchers find the blind use visual brain area to improve other senses
Researchers found that blind individuals use specialized modules in the visual cortex to process spatial location, analysis of space, patterns, and motion. This neural plasticity enables them to refine their sense of sound and touch, exceeding sighted people's abilities.
Blind inventors revolutionize computer access
Australian blind computer programmers James Teh and Michael Curran developed NVDA, a synthetic voice program that reads computer screen words as the cursor moves. The free software has been downloaded over 50,000 times and is available in 27 languages.
Adapting to darkness: How behavioral and genetic changes helped cavefish survive extreme environment
Researchers at the University of Maryland have discovered how Mexican blind cavefish evolved adaptations to compensate for their loss of vision, including an enhanced vibration attraction behavior to detect food sources. This study provides new insights into the link between behavior, genetics, and evolution in these unique organisms.
ONR researchers look to the future for defeating blindness
Neurobiologists funded by the Office of Naval Research have discovered a potential cure for degenerative vision diseases, restoring vision in mice with congenital macular degeneration. The research has significant future implications for treating eye diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa, which affects over 2 million worldwide cases.
Valproic acid shown to halt vision loss in patients with retinitis pigmentosa
Researchers at UMass Medical School have found valproic acid to halt vision loss in patients with retinitis pigmentosa, a severe neurodegenerative disease that causes blindness. The study suggests that low-dose valproic acid could be an effective treatment for photoreceptor loss associated with RP.
Lu receives grant from Research to Prevent Blindness organization
Dr. Qingxian Lu has received a $60,000 grant from the Research to Prevent Blindness organization to investigate the role of MerTK in retinitis pigmentosa, a group of genetic disorders causing night blindness and vision loss.
Blind mice can 'see' thanks to special retinal cells
A study by Johns Hopkins University found that blind mice can form low-acuity images using special photosensitive cells in their retinas. This discovery suggests that a blind person could be trained to use these cells to perform simple tasks requiring low visual acuity.
Tool manipulation is represented similarly in the brains of the blind and the sighted
A recent study discovered that blind individuals' brains represent tools in the same regions as sighted people, while non-tool objects don't trigger the same brain activity. This finding suggests a highly constrained organization of brain processing, which may be built-in by genetics.
OU researchers find way to prevent blindness in research model for retinitis pigmentosa
Researchers at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center have found a way to use gene therapy to treat retinitis pigmentosa, an eye disease that causes blindness. The treatment involves delivering genetic therapies directly to light-sensitive cells in the retina using nanoparticle technology.
Harbor seals' whiskers as good at detecting fish as echolocating dolphins
Researchers found harbor seals can track fish fins up to 35 seconds after passing, using the structure of vortices and jets in the wake. Guided by their whiskers, seals accurately detected fin direction with over 90% accuracy.
Computer technique could help partially sighted 'see' better
A new study by Durham University has found that a computer-based technique can improve the ability of partially-sighted people to 'see' better. The research tested patients with hemianopia, a condition affecting their visual field, and found that they became faster and more accurate at detecting objects on a computer screen.
New genes involved in human eye color identified
A genome-wide association study has identified three new genetic loci significantly associated with quantitative eye colour variation, explaining over 50% of the trait's variance. The study used high-resolution full-eye photographs to quantify human eye colour along multiple dimensions.
US Latinos have high rates of developing vision loss and certain eye conditions
The Los Angeles Latino Eye Study found that US Latinos develop visual impairment, blindness, diabetic eye disease, and cataracts at higher rates than non-Hispanic whites. Researchers also identified specific risk factors for these conditions, including diabetes and age.
Gene therapy sets stage for new treatments for inherited blindness, Penn veterinary researchers say
Veterinary scientists at Penn have successfully used a viral vector to target rod cells in the retina, a critical step towards developing gene therapies for inherited blindness. The study demonstrates the potential of this approach to correct diseases such as X-linked and autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa.
Making the blind see: Gene therapy restores vision in mice
Scientists have successfully used gene therapy to restore vision in mice with retinitis pigmentosa, a degenerative eye disease. The treatment involved the use of compacted DNA nanoparticles, which improved structural and functional vision in affected mice, without any adverse effects.
Orange corn holds promise for reducing blindness, child death
A new gene discovery in orange corn has significant implications for addressing vitamin A deficiency-related blindness and child mortality. Increasing beta-carotene levels in cereal grains can be an economical approach to tackling these deficiencies, especially in developing countries.
Seeing a bionic eye on medicine's horizon
Researchers at Tel Aviv University are developing a new retinal implant technology that can stimulate cell growth in the retina, potentially leading to improved vision. The technology uses electrodes to merge retinal nerves with nano-sized carbon tubes, allowing for the growth of living neurons on a synthetic structure.
Brain holds early signs of glaucoma
Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center have found that the first sign of injury in glaucoma occurs in the brain, where neuronal communication with the optic nerve is compromised. This discovery offers new insights into the disease and potential treatment targets.
New gene discovery could help to prevent blindness
Scientists have discovered a new gene, TSPAN12, that is faulty in patients with Familial Exudative Vitreoretinopathy (FEVR), a type of inherited blindness. The research found that mutations in this gene can cause FEVR by disrupting blood vessel development in the retina.
Double agent: Glial cells can protect or kill neurons, vision
A new study found that glial cells can switch from protecting neurons to killing them when triggered by proNGF. The process can lead to vision loss and blindness. Researchers hope to find ways to block proNGF's effects to prevent this damage.
Researchers find new insights into inherited retinal disease
A team of scientists has discovered a new link between a common form of inherited blindness and the AHI1 gene. They found that patients carrying a specific genetic alteration were more likely to have retinal blindness, and some forms may be treatable with gene therapy.
Discovery points toward anti-inflammation treatment for blinding disease
Interleukin-6 is a key mediator of inflammation in diabetic retinopathy, inducing vascular inflammation and tissue destruction. An interleukin-6 antibody may prevent damage by targeting this inflammatory response.
Study explains why light worsens migraine headaches
Researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center identified a new visual pathway that underlies sensitivity to light during migraines. This pathway involves melanopsin photoreceptors and converges on specific neurons in the brain, which become electrically active during migraine, leading to pain intensification.
It's never too late to quit smoking and save your vision
A UCLA study published in the American Journal of Ophthalmology found that older women who quit smoking had a significantly lower risk of developing advanced age-related macular degeneration. The research, led by Dr. Anne Coleman, followed 1,958 women over five years and showed that even after age 80, quitting smoking can reduce AMD risk.
Management capacity is needed to tackle blindness in sub-Saharan Africa
A study emphasizes the need for dedicated management capacity to address blindness in sub-Saharan Africa. The region has 20% of global blindness despite having only 11% of the world's population, highlighting the importance of effective management systems.
The changing pattern of childhood blindness in developing countries
Major reductions in infectious and nutritional causes of childhood blindness have led to increased focus on congenital and developmental cataracts. Further research is needed to address these issues with targeted interventions.
Eye floaters and flashes of light linked to retinal tear, detachment
A new study found that one in seven patients with eye floaters and flashes of light have a retinal tear or detachment, which can lead to blindness. Researchers call for urgent assessment to detect this serious eye problem.
UCLA study shows brain's ability to reorganize
A recent UCLA study found that blindness causes structural changes in the brain, leading to compensatory growth in non-visual areas. This adaptation enables individuals with visual impairments to develop enhanced skills in other senses.
Study finds many people with hemianopia have difficulty detecting pedestrians while driving, advocates for individual testing
A study found that individuals with hemianopia, a condition where one half of the visual field is blinded, struggle to detect pedestrians on their blind side while driving. This suggests that drivers with hemianopia should be tested individually to determine their fitness to drive.
RPB presents Disney Award for Amblyopia Research to A. M. Norcia, Ph.D., Smith-Kettlewell Eye
Dr. Anthony M. Norcia, Ph.D., receives the Walt and Lilly Disney Award for Amblyopia Research from Research to Prevent Blindness (RPB) for his pioneering work in visual development, brain imaging, and brainwave recording. The award will support novel research on amblyopic suppression and its mechanism in the human visual cortex.
1 shot of gene therapy and children with congenital blindness can now see
A gene therapy treatment has successfully restored vision in five children and seven adults with Leber's congenital amaurosis, a group of inherited blinding diseases. The treatment uses genes to produce light-sensitive pigments in the back of the eye, allowing patients to navigate low-light environments and perform daily activities.
Can we 'learn to see?': Study shows perception of invisible stimuli improves with training
Researchers found that brains can be trained to consciously see invisible stimuli, which may help people with blindsight gain awareness. The study suggests a potential new line of research and treatments for acquired cortical blindness.
Experimental treatments restore partial vision to blind people
Researchers have developed two experimental treatments that restored some vision to people with blinding eye diseases. A retinal prosthesis and fetal tissue transplant showed promise in human studies, improving visual acuity in several individuals with retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration.
Caltech scientists create robot surrogate for blind persons in testing visual prostheses
Researchers at Caltech have developed a robot called CYCLOPS that simulates the visual experience of blind individuals with implanted visual prostheses, refining design and enhancing its effectiveness. The robot's camera system processes images, allowing scientists to test various enhancements without relying on actual blind users.
MIT retinal implant could help restore some vision
Researchers at MIT have designed a retinal implant that can help restore some vision in individuals who have lost their sight due to these conditions. The chip stimulates nerve cells in the retina to bypass damaged layers and transmit signals to the brain.
Researchers identify gene variant linked to glaucoma
A recent study has identified gene variants for glaucoma in a black population, which could lead to future treatments or a cure for the disease. The finding is significant as it explains nearly one-third of the genetic risk for glaucoma and could provide a more accurate and earlier diagnosis.
Virtual maps for the blind
Dr. Orly Lahav's BlindAid software tool uses a joystick and 3-D haptic device to provide tactile feedback, allowing the blind to navigate and explore virtual environments. The tool is connected to real-world maps, enabling users to build cognitive maps and take control of their lives.
Study predicts 40 percent increase in blindness in Nigeria by 2020
A study predicts a 40% increase in blindness in Nigeria by 2020, with nearly all cases being either preventable or treatable. The research found that cataracts, glaucoma, and refractive errors are the most common causes of blindness, particularly among those with limited access to healthcare.
New study shows those blinded by brain injury may still 'see'
Researchers found that a patient blinded on one side of his brain could still avoid obstacles in his non-damaged visual field, suggesting ancient visual pathways bypass the main visual areas. These primitive pathways work in real-time and do not access memories, with important implications for rehabilitation.
Gene therapy 1 year later: Patients healthy and maintain early visual improvement
Researchers report significant visual benefits in three young adults with Leber congenital amaurosis, a previously untreatable form of blindness. The gene therapy, which restored the RPE65 protein necessary for vision production, has shown safety and stability over one year.
No experience required: Category-specific brain organization in sighted and blind humans
Researchers found category-specific brain activation in both sighted and blind humans, suggesting innate structure of the human brain. The ventral stream's medial-to-lateral organization reflects preferences for nonliving-to-living stimuli, indicating evolutionary history constraints.
Vision researchers see unexpected gain a year into blindness trial
Researchers have discovered that gene therapy can restore vision in adults with Leber congenital amaurosis type 2, a rare form of blindness. The treated parts of the retina have acquired image-processing strength to rival the normal center for visual perception.
Pharmacy pamphlets apparently more about looks than legibility: study
A recent study at the University of Alberta found that most pharmacy pamphlets fail to meet guidelines for accessibility, with only 23% meeting 9 out of 10 Canadian recommendations. The study highlights a need for improved accessibility and readability in pharmaceutical information.