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Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Vision Breakthrough Opens Doors to Brain Adaptability
A new medical vision breakthrough where neurobiologist Susan Barry, of Mount Holyoke College, in South Hadley, Massachusetts, trained her brain to conquer the supposedly lifelong eye condition called strabismus has far-reaching implications.
If, contrary to conventional wisdom, the human brain can be retrained beyond the formative years of life, new hope could be on the horizon for those suffering from post-traumatic stress, ADHD, learning disabilities, brain injuries, and many other brain-related conditions.
Barry, an overachiever all her life, found innovative ways to compensate for her supposedly incurable cross-eyed condition, even became a neurobiologist at the collegiate level, yet never lost sight of her goal to see in three dimensions like most people.
Tidbits from her journey, plus documentation Barry recorded proving the human brain can be retrained include:
* While in the third grade in the 1960s, Barry is embarrassed by her demotion from a class for above-average students to a special-problems class
* Diagnosed with strabismus, a misalignment of the eyes that causes a variety of conditions, Barry’s specific problem is cross-eyes
* Three surgeries make her eyes look straight, but don’t correct the problem
* She learns to read by suppressing the image projected by one eye
* Doctors tell Barry her condition is incurable
* Through hard work, she’s accepted as a student at Wesleyan University, in Middletown, Connecticut
* 2002 Annoyed she’s a neurobiologist and vision specialist who can’t recognize faces in the rear of her classrooms, Barry begins rigorous program of vision therapy
* 2009 Publishes “Fixing My Gaze: A Scientist’s Journey Into Seeing in Three Dimensions,” documenting how unusual exercises retrained her mind to focus both eyes on one object simultaneously, hence three-dimensional vision
Barry’s vision breakthrough, orchestrated by an elaborate program of vision therapy that included small wooden balls suspended on strings, complicated eye charts, and jumping on a trampoline to catch specific visuals in her peripheral vision, crazy as it sounds, could open new doors as far as retraining the mind for optimum purposes.
* While in the third grade in the 1960s, Barry is embarrassed by her demotion from a class for above-average students to a special-problems class
* Diagnosed with strabismus, a misalignment of the eyes that causes a variety of conditions, Barry’s specific problem is cross-eyes
* Three surgeries make her eyes look straight, but don’t correct the problem
* She learns to read by suppressing the image projected by one eye
* Doctors tell Barry her condition is incurable
* Through hard work, she’s accepted as a student at Wesleyan University, in Middletown, Connecticut
* 2002 Annoyed she’s a neurobiologist and vision specialist who can’t recognize faces in the rear of her classrooms, Barry begins rigorous program of vision therapy
* 2009 Publishes “Fixing My Gaze: A Scientist’s Journey Into Seeing in Three Dimensions,” documenting how unusual exercises retrained her mind to focus both eyes on one object simultaneously, hence three-dimensional vision
Barry’s vision breakthrough, orchestrated by an elaborate program of vision therapy that included small wooden balls suspended on strings, complicated eye charts, and jumping on a trampoline to catch specific visuals in her peripheral vision, crazy as it sounds, could open new doors as far as retraining the mind for optimum purposes.
by Rocky Wilson
Author of Sharene - Death: A Prerequisite For Life
Owner of Healthy Chocolate website
