The psychophysiological basis of the compensatory development of visual perception in vision disorders

: At comparison of the data obtained in psychophysical and electrophysiological studies, disturbances were revealed of neurophysiological mechanisms of visual perception in children with the diseases of retinocortical tract. For compensation of the disturbances and development of perception a method is suggested of specific activation of neuronal formations based on their fundamental property--plasticity. The method consists in using rhythmical repeated stimulation of eyes with images which widely vary by the brightness, contrast, colour, form, orientation and spatial position in the visual field. Experimental verification of the method was conducted by a special program of correction studies with children having weak and residual sight. After 2-3 years of studies a significant increase was observed of probability of correct recognition of images by one parameter or combination of two parameters, increase of perception volume and improvement of its other properties. It is supposed that activation of sensory information processes lowers the level of deprivation and mobilizes reserve mechanisms of compensation in the projection and associative areas of the cerebral cortex.