A Model of Visual Imagery A Model of Visual Imagery John - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

A Model of Visual Imagery A Model of Visual Imagery

John Abbondanza, OD, FCOVD John Abbondanza, OD, FCOVD , , , ,

A Model of Visual Imagery A Model of Visual Imagery A Model of Visual Imagery A Model of Visual Imagery

• What shape are a German Shepard’s

ears?

• Which is bigger – a tennis ball or a pear?
• Which is a darker shade of green – a

Christmas tree or a frozen pea? p

A Model of Visual Imagery A Model of Visual Imagery A Model of Visual Imagery A Model of Visual Imagery

Can you think of a penny without all of the attributes of a penny? attributes of a penny?

• size
• Lincoln’s head
• shape
• inscriptions
• color

color

A Model of Visual Imagery A Model of Visual Imagery A Model of Visual Imagery A Model of Visual Imagery

Wh t did d t th ti ?

• What did you do to answer the question?

Goals Goals Goals Goals

• To introduce visualization concepts based

To introduce visualization concepts based

• n current understanding of neuroscientific

principles principles To introduce therapeutic techniques that

• To introduce therapeutic techniques that

can be used as part of a vision therapy program program

A Model of Visual Imagery A Model of Visual Imagery A Model of Visual Imagery A Model of Visual Imagery

Wh t t lki b t?

• What are we talking about?

– Visualization – Visual imagery – Imagery

A Model of Visual Imagery A Model of Visual Imagery A Model of Visual Imagery A Model of Visual Imagery

W b t ’ D fi iti Webster’s Definitions

• Visualize

“to form a mental image of Visualize to form a mental image of something not present to the sight an abstraction” sight, an abstraction

• Image

“a mental picture of something, a conception, idea, impression”

A Model of Visual Imagery A Model of Visual Imagery A Model of Visual Imagery A Model of Visual Imagery

• For the Behavioral Optometrist

Visualization = The ability to create, maintain manipulate and recall visual maintain, manipulate, and recall visual images

A Model of Visual Imagery A Model of Visual Imagery A Model of Visual Imagery A Model of Visual Imagery

• Damasio

Damasio

I f th – Images form the basis of mind

• Brain creates images

in sensory cortex

A Model of Visual Imagery A Model of Visual Imagery A Model of Visual Imagery A Model of Visual Imagery

• Sensory cortex

is active during g imagery Top down processing

A Model of Visual Imagery A Model of Visual Imagery A Model of Visual Imagery A Model of Visual Imagery

• Images (particularly visual images) provide

Images (particularly visual images) provide a rapid entrance into the emotional system

• Can be used for arousal or relaxation

– horror movies – meditation

A Model of Visual Imagery A Model of Visual Imagery A Model of Visual Imagery A Model of Visual Imagery

• Arnheim – Visual Thinking

Arnheim Visual Thinking

• The perception of shape contains the

beginnings of concept formation beginnings of concept formation

• Imagery as thought “offers the possibility

f d i th i ll t k l t

• f reducing a theme visually to a skeleton
• f essential dynamic features”.

Visual Image Visual Image Where Where Where Where i it? i it? am I? am I? is it? is it? VISION VISION VISION VISION What What is it? is it? What can I What can I tell about tell about is it? is it? tell about tell about it? it?

A Model of Visual Imagery A Model of Visual Imagery A Model of Visual Imagery A Model of Visual Imagery

• Damasio

Damasio Mi d i th bilit t di l i

• Mind requires the ability to display images

internally and to order those images in a ll d th ht process called thought

Thought Thought

Where Where I? I? Where Where is it? is it? am I? am I? is it? is it? VISION VISION VISION VISION What What i it? i it? What can I What can I tell about tell about is it? is it? tell about tell about it? it?

A Model of Visual Imagery A Model of Visual Imagery A Model of Visual Imagery A Model of Visual Imagery

• Images are used in reading, spelling, and

in recall

• Let’s look at the reading process in more

Let s look at the reading process in more detail

The Reading Process The Reading Process The Reading Process The Reading Process

• Step 1 - Where is the word on page

Step 1 Where is the word on page (tracking)

• Step 2 – Both eyes have to point to it

(binocularity)

• Step 3 – Focus (accommodation)
• All visual steps – no phonics or reading

The Reading Process The Reading Process The Reading Process The Reading Process

• Step 4 – Interpret what is on the page

p p p g

– decoding (what is the word) decoding (what is the word) – semantics (what does it mean) Do good readers typically use much phonics when reading? when reading?

The Reading Process The Reading Process The Reading Process The Reading Process

• Phonics is too slow

Phonics is too slow

• What are good readers doing?

– recognizing the words based on their look – that look is the image of the word – as if we have an icon in our head

The Reading Process The Reading Process The Reading Process The Reading Process

• Spelling is the flip side of the coin

Spelling is the flip side of the coin

H d ll ? – How do you spell ….. ? ? – What did you do to answer the question?

The Reading Process The Reading Process The Reading Process The Reading Process

R di i l iti

• Reading

– visual recognition

• visual imagery
• Spelling
• visual recall

Spelling visual recall

The Reading Process The Reading Process The Reading Process The Reading Process

• So what happens to the child who has

difficulty with binocular, accommodative, and oculomotor dysfunction, and has difficulty creating, maintaining, manipulating and recalling visual images?

An Optometric Approach An Optometric Approach to Reading Problems to Reading Problems

E l t l t d ti –Evaluate oculomotor, accommodative, and binocular skills –Rx appropriate lens – especially low plus for near, even if VA 20/20 –Vision therapy for oculomotor, accommodative, binocular dysfunction y and to develop visual imagery

Visualization in Vision Therapy Visualization in Vision Therapy Visualization in Vision Therapy Visualization in Vision Therapy

P ti t b t ht t t i t i

• Patients can be taught to create, maintain,

manipulate, and recall visual images

• Elliot Forrest – Visual Imagery
• Concrete – less concrete – abstract

Developing Visual Imagery Developing Visual Imagery

t thi i t f ith i

• two things interfere with imagery
• verbalization (subvocalization)

verbalization (subvocalization)

• stress
• Must control verbalization and reduce

stress stress

Visualization Techniques Visualization Techniques Visualization Techniques Visualization Techniques

– Visualize themselves – Object Visualization – Pterodactyl Game (Steve Ingersoll) y ( g ) – Math Facts Visualization – Spelling visualization – Reading Visualization – Writing/study skills – Resistant imagers – Relaxation

Visualization for Planning Action Visualization for Planning Action Visualization for Planning Action Visualization for Planning Action

• Colin – impulsive 7 yr old (Dx ADHD)

Colin impulsive 7 yr old (Dx ADHD)

– difficulty with memory problems organizing – problems organizing What to do? – What to do?

• STOP!! - make a picture in your head
• See yourself doing each component (make a
• See yourself doing each component (make a

movie in your head)

Relaxation Technique Relaxation Technique Relaxation Technique Relaxation Technique

• Sit in a quiet, comfortable place in low

lighting and close your eyes

• Picture a beautiful, quiet, peaceful beach
• Slow, deep breath in through your nose

Slow, deep breath in through your nose and out slowly through pursed lips

• No one else around you
• No one else around you

Relaxation Technique Relaxation Technique Relaxation Technique Relaxation Technique

• Safe and comfortable place
• See the crisp, clean water
• See the sun up in the cloudless sky
• Imagine yourself lying on a beach
• Imagine yourself lying on a beach
• Feel the warmth of the sun on your skin
• Slow, deep breath in and out

A Model of Visual Imagery A Model of Visual Imagery -

• Summary

Summary

– Visual imagery is a brain process that uses Visual imagery is a brain process that uses the visual input system to create top down images, which in turn can be manipulated to think, plan, and remember. – The manipulation of those images is thought – Imagery can be developed and used as part

• f a comprehensive vision therapy program

– Important to control stress and verbalization

References References References References

• Webster's New World College Dictionary

Webster s New World College Dictionary, Fourth edition - 2001

• Damasio A

(1994) Descartes' Error

• Damasio A. (1994) Descartes Error -

Emotion, Reason, and the Human Brain, New York: Penguin Books New York: Penguin Books

• Kandel E, Schwartz J, and Jessell T.

(2000) P i i l f N i (2000) Principles of Neuroscience. McGraw-Hill.

References References References References

• Kosslyn S and Koenig O

(1995) Wet Kosslyn, S and Koenig, O. (1995) Wet Mind: The New Cognitive Neuroscience. New York Simon and Schuster New York, Simon and Schuster.

• Forrest E. (1981) Visual Imagery: An

Optometric Approach Duncan OK: OEP Optometric Approach, Duncan, OK: OEP Foundation.

drjohn@greatvisioncare.com drjohn@greatvisioncare.com drJohnAbbo@charter.net drJohnAbbo@charter.net Vision Care Specialists Vision Care Specialists Southboro MA Southboro MA Southboro, MA Southboro, MA (508)481 (508)481-

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