Vision Essay -- Biology Essays Research Papers

Vision - A Learned Process Or Are We Born With It? Depth perception is made possible by having two components, binocular vision and stereopsis. Binocular vision is defined as vision where both eyes are aimed simultaneously at the same visual target and where both eyes work together a coordinated team (1). Stereopsis is defined as vision where two separate images from two eyes are successfully combined into one image in the brain (1). In class it was learned that through the process of depth perception, one can have 3-D vision even though our retina receives visual information as 2 dimensional. This is made possible by the fact that the brain has learned to process visual images by comparing the relative sizes, horizontal and vertical orientations, object overlaps and shadows projected within the field to define our perceptions of the world around us (4). Is this really true? Does the brain learn how to perceive its world as three dimensional or is it something that we always did from birth? The most obvious time to see if this visual process is learned is through the observation of the visual processes of infants. The earliest studies of depth perception and babies used an apparatus called the visual cliff (Berk 151). This device consists of a glass covered table and a central platform, from which babies are encouraged to crawl. Patterns are placed beneath the glass to create the appearance of a shallow side and a deep side. When trying to get the babies to crawl across the glass, the babies readily crossed the shallow side and all but a few reacted with fear to the deep side. The researchers concluded that about the time infants crawl, most of them have an understanding of depth perception. Another study carried out ... ... crucial first weeks of life. The efficacy of vision therapy is something that should also be studied. Not much has been heard about this therapy and if it is effective as it says to be, then the visual system can be better understood. It would also be interesting to note if any changes in brain structure take place as a result of vision therapy. Further investigations (like those mentioned above) can help us better understand whether vision is learned or not. At the beginning of researching this paper, I was ready to say that we were born with our visual abilities and were stuck with them due to genetics, however I am now willing to support a theory that vision is learned and can be re-learned, due to the findings of vision therapy. Internet Sources: http://www.autism.org/visual.html Berk, Laura E. Child Development 4th Ed. Allyn and Bacon, Boston, 1997. Vision Essay -- Biology Essays Research Papers Vision - A Learned Process Or Are We Born With It? Depth perception is made possible by having two components, binocular vision and stereopsis. Binocular vision is defined as vision where both eyes are aimed simultaneously at the same visual target and where both eyes work together a coordinated team (1). Stereopsis is defined as vision where two separate images from two eyes are successfully combined into one image in the brain (1). In class it was learned that through the process of depth perception, one can have 3-D vision even though our retina receives visual information as 2 dimensional. This is made possible by the fact that the brain has learned to process visual images by comparing the relative sizes, horizontal and vertical orientations, object overlaps and shadows projected within the field to define our perceptions of the world around us (4). Is this really true? Does the brain learn how to perceive its world as three dimensional or is it something that we always did from birth? The most obvious time to see if this visual process is learned is through the observation of the visual processes of infants. The earliest studies of depth perception and babies used an apparatus called the visual cliff (Berk 151). This device consists of a glass covered table and a central platform, from which babies are encouraged to crawl. Patterns are placed beneath the glass to create the appearance of a shallow side and a deep side. When trying to get the babies to crawl across the glass, the babies readily crossed the shallow side and all but a few reacted with fear to the deep side. The researchers concluded that about the time infants crawl, most of them have an understanding of depth perception. Another study carried out ... ... crucial first weeks of life. The efficacy of vision therapy is something that should also be studied. Not much has been heard about this therapy and if it is effective as it says to be, then the visual system can be better understood. It would also be interesting to note if any changes in brain structure take place as a result of vision therapy. Further investigations (like those mentioned above) can help us better understand whether vision is learned or not. At the beginning of researching this paper, I was ready to say that we were born with our visual abilities and were stuck with them due to genetics, however I am now willing to support a theory that vision is learned and can be re-learned, due to the findings of vision therapy. Internet Sources: http://www.autism.org/visual.html Berk, Laura E. Child Development 4th Ed. Allyn and Bacon, Boston, 1997.