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The development of vision between nature and nurture: clinical implications from visual neuroscience

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Abstract

Background

Vision is an adaptive function and should be considered a prerequisite for neurodevelopment because it permits the organization and the comprehension of the sensory data collected by the visual system during daily life. For this reason, the influence of visual functions on neuromotor, cognitive, and emotional development has been investigated by several studies that have highlighted how visual functions can drive the organization and maturation of human behavior. Recent studies on animals and human models have indicated that visual functions mature gradually during post-natal life, and its development is closely linked to environment and experience.

Discussion

The role of vision in early brain development and some of the neuroplasticity mechanisms that have been described in the presence of cerebral damage during childhood are analyzed in this review, according to a neurorehabilitation prospective.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, Viale del Tirreno 331, Calambrone, Pisa, Italy

    Giulia Purpura & Francesca Tinelli

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  1. Giulia Purpura
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  2. Francesca Tinelli
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Contributions

Dr. Giulia Purpura was responsible for the idea of this mini review and had the primary responsibility for the analysis of literature and for writing the manuscript. Dr. Francesca Tinelli supervised the design and execution of the review and contributed to the writing of the manuscript for the final version.

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Correspondence to Francesca Tinelli.

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Purpura, G., Tinelli, F. The development of vision between nature and nurture: clinical implications from visual neuroscience. Childs Nerv Syst 36, 911–917 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-020-04554-1

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