Adaptation of eye movements to simulated hemianopia in reading and visual exploration: Transfer or specificity?

Schuett, S.; Kentridge, R.W.; Zihl, J.; Heywood, C.A.

Abstract

Reading and visual exploration impairments in unilateral homonymous hemianopia are well-established clinical phenomena. Spontaneous adaptation of eye-movements to the visual field defect leads to improved reading and visual exploration performance. Yet, it is still unclear whether oculomotor adaptation to visual field loss is task-specific or whether there is a transfer of adaptation-related improvements between reading and visual exploration. We therefore simulated unilateral homonymous hemianopia in healthy participants and explored the specificity with which oculomotor adaptation to this pure visual-sensory dysfunction during uninstructed reading or visual exploration practice leads to improvements in both abilities. Our findings demonstrate that there is no transfer of adaptation-related changes of eye-movements and performance improvements between reading and visual exploration. Efficient oculomotor adaptation to visual field loss is highly specific and task-dependent.

Citation

Schuett, S., Kentridge, R., Zihl, J., & Heywood, C. (2009). Adaptation of eye movements to simulated hemianopia in reading and visual exploration: Transfer or specificity?. Neuropsychologia, 47(7), 1712-1720. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2009.02.010

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jun 1, 2009
• Deposit Date: Sep 25, 2012
• Journal: Neuropsychologia
• Print ISSN: 0028-3932
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 47
• Issue: 7
• Pages: 1712-1720
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2009.02.010
• Keywords: Hemianopia, Simulation, Eye-movements, Adaptation, Reading, Visual exploration.
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1547743