Results obtained in both animal models and hemianopic patients indicate that sound, spatially and temporally coincident with a visual stimulus, can improve visual perception in the blind hemifield, probably due to activation of 'multisensory neurons', mainly located in the superior colliculus. In view of this evidence, a new rehabilitation approach, based on audiovisual stimulation of visual field, has been proposed, and applied in adults with visual field reduction due to unilateral brain lesions. So far, results have been very encouraging, with improvements in visual search abilities. Based on these findings, we have investigated the possibility of inducing long-lasting amelioration also in children with a visual deficit due to acquired brain lesions. Our results suggest that, in the absence of spontaneous recovery, audiovisual training can induce activation of visual responsiveness of the oculomotor system also in children and adolescents with acquired lesions and confirm the putatively important role of the superior colliculus (SC) in this process.

Audio-Visual Stimulation Improves Visual Search Abilities in Hemianopia due to Childhood Acquired Brain Lesions

TINELLI, FRANCESCA;PURPURA, GIULIA;CIONI, GIOVANNI
2015-01-01

Abstract

Results obtained in both animal models and hemianopic patients indicate that sound, spatially and temporally coincident with a visual stimulus, can improve visual perception in the blind hemifield, probably due to activation of 'multisensory neurons', mainly located in the superior colliculus. In view of this evidence, a new rehabilitation approach, based on audiovisual stimulation of visual field, has been proposed, and applied in adults with visual field reduction due to unilateral brain lesions. So far, results have been very encouraging, with improvements in visual search abilities. Based on these findings, we have investigated the possibility of inducing long-lasting amelioration also in children with a visual deficit due to acquired brain lesions. Our results suggest that, in the absence of spontaneous recovery, audiovisual training can induce activation of visual responsiveness of the oculomotor system also in children and adolescents with acquired lesions and confirm the putatively important role of the superior colliculus (SC) in this process.
2015
Tinelli, Francesca; Purpura, Giulia; Cioni, Giovanni
File in questo prodotto:
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11568/761721
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 6
  • Scopus 15
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 11
social impact