Abstract
Sensitive periods have previously been identified for
several human visual system functions. Yet, it is
unknown to what degree the development of visually
guided oculomotor control depends on early visual
experience—for example, whether and to what degree
humans whose sight was restored after a transient
period of congenital visual deprivation are able to
conduct visually guided eye movements. In the present
study, we developed new calibration and analysis
techniques for eye tracking data contaminated with
pervasive nystagmus, which is typical for this
population. We investigated visually guided eye
movements in sight recovery individuals with long
periods of visual pattern deprivation (3–36 years)
following birth due to congenital, dense, total, bilateral
cataracts. As controls we assessed (1) individuals with
nystagmus due to causes other than cataracts, (2)
individuals with developmental cataracts after cataract
removal, and (3) individuals with normal vision.
Congenital cataract reversal individuals were able to
perform visually guided gaze shifts, even when their
blindness had lasted for decades. The typical extensive
nystagmus of this group distorted eye movement
trajectories, but measures of latency and accuracy were
as expected from their prevailing nystagmus—that is,
not worse than in the nystagmus control group. To the
best of our knowledge, the present quantitative study is
the first to investigate the characteristics of oculomotor
control in congenital cataract reversal individuals, and it
indicates a remarkable effectiveness of visually guided
eye movements despite long-lasting periods of visual
deprivation.
several human visual system functions. Yet, it is
unknown to what degree the development of visually
guided oculomotor control depends on early visual
experience—for example, whether and to what degree
humans whose sight was restored after a transient
period of congenital visual deprivation are able to
conduct visually guided eye movements. In the present
study, we developed new calibration and analysis
techniques for eye tracking data contaminated with
pervasive nystagmus, which is typical for this
population. We investigated visually guided eye
movements in sight recovery individuals with long
periods of visual pattern deprivation (3–36 years)
following birth due to congenital, dense, total, bilateral
cataracts. As controls we assessed (1) individuals with
nystagmus due to causes other than cataracts, (2)
individuals with developmental cataracts after cataract
removal, and (3) individuals with normal vision.
Congenital cataract reversal individuals were able to
perform visually guided gaze shifts, even when their
blindness had lasted for decades. The typical extensive
nystagmus of this group distorted eye movement
trajectories, but measures of latency and accuracy were
as expected from their prevailing nystagmus—that is,
not worse than in the nystagmus control group. To the
best of our knowledge, the present quantitative study is
the first to investigate the characteristics of oculomotor
control in congenital cataract reversal individuals, and it
indicates a remarkable effectiveness of visually guided
eye movements despite long-lasting periods of visual
deprivation.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1–24 |
| Number of pages | 24 |
| Journal | Journal of Vision |
| Volume | 20 |
| Issue number | 7 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 6 Jul 2020 |
Keywords
- eye movements
- sight recovery
- developmental neuroplasticity
- sensitive periods