Disorders

Damage to the parts of the brain that process visual information can lead to a variety of visual agnosias depending on which area is damaged. Some people with agnosia have difficulty recognizing familiar faces or objects, others cannot distinguish color, and still others may not perceive movement. A related phenomenon is neglect, which results in inattention to one side of the body (and visual field), so that objects on that side are not noticed. There are many interesting case histories of such individuals, and studying both the site of damage and the particular loss of function can tell us a great deal about how the brain allows us to “see” the world. Such disorders also illustrate the principle that visual perception is somewhat modular, meaning that particular functions are processed by different brain areas.

In this Discussion, you will choose a visual perception disorder from those included in Chapter 10 of the text. You will research the symptoms of the disorder, and analyze the impact of it on the affected person including issues with work, relationships, and leisure time.

To prepare for this Discussion:

• Review the information on vision in Chapter 10 of your textbook, particularly the discussion on disorders of visual perception.
• Select one of the conditions covered in the book (object agnosia, prosopagnosia, color agnosia, movement agnosia, neglect, or synesthesia) to research in more detail. Locate a peer-reviewed scientific article about this condition in the Walden Library. The article should address the underlying neurobiology of the condition (i.e., neurotransmitters, brain regions involved, or connections between different areas).
• For the condition you selected, think about the symptoms and problems commonly experienced by people with the condition and the impact of the condition on areas of life including work, relationships, and leisure time. Also note the areas of the brain responsible for the condition and specific behaviors the condition affects. Consider how your own life would be different if you had this condition.

With these thoughts in mind:

Post a summary of the condition you chose. Include the brain area(s) responsible for the condition. Discuss the symptoms of the condition or the common problems that people with this form of brain damage often experience. Briefly summarize the journal article that you selected, detailing the underlying neurobiology of the condition. Discuss how your article expanded on the textbook’s explanation of the condition.

If you had this condition, explain what everyday life would be like including its impact on your occupation, relationships, and leisure time. Include how the condition might affect your behaviors and experiences in these settings. What are some adaptations that you could make that would ease the effects of this condition?

Note: Put the condition you selected in the first line of your post. You will be asked to respond to a colleague who selected a different condition than you did.

Support your postings and responses with specific references to the Learning Resources and any additional sources you identify using both in-text citations and complete references in APA format.