Vision, spatial cognition and intellectual disability

Abstract

Vision is the most synthetic sensory channel and it provides specific information about the relative position of distant landmarks during visual exploration. In this paper we propose that visual exploration, as assessed by the recording of eye movements, offers an original method to analyze spatial cognition and to reveal alternative adaptation strategies in people with intellectual disabilities (ID). Our general assumption is that eye movement exploration may simultaneously reveal whether, why, and how, compensatory strategies point to specific difficulties related to neurological symptoms. An understanding of these strategies will also help in the development of optimal rehabilitation procedures.

The inter-relationships between cerebral visual impairment, autism and intellectual disability

“…A high incidence of visual perception deficits has been identified in both patients with signs of autism and in those with ID, as also acknowledged by the DSM-5 (APA, 2013). Several studies, mirroring the research in autism, have looked into the frequency of visual deficits in a population of subjects with ID, and found an increased prevalence of visual impairment (Boot et al, 2012;Carvill, 2001), including disturbances in visual orienting behavior, spatial cognition and oculomotor functioning (Boot et al, 2012;Giuliani and Schenk, 2015). Interestingly, Battaglia (2011) underlines that the relationship between sensory deficits and ID is frequent, and that these are also observed in multiple conditions including ASD, the fragile X syndrome, tuberous sclerosis complex associated with ASD, Rett syndrome, 22q13.3 deletion syndrome, familial dysautonomia, Williams syndrome, Down syndrome and Prader-Willi syndrome, but also in other contexts such as a history of neonatal distress, or perinatal brain lesions often accompanying premature birth (Couser et al, 2017;Geldof et al, 2015;Krinsky-McHale et al, 2014).…”

Gestural praxis in young adults with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities

“…The involvement of all these components in the imitation process may explain the inferior performance of the ID group and the discrepancy of results when compared to the group without ID. On the other hand, with regard to imitation and visuocognition, studies support the idea that individuals with ID can focus their gaze on a specific object or part and not notice the outstanding features that are being asked to imitate (Giuliani & Schenk ).…”

Pleiotropic predisposition to Alzheimer’s disease and educational attainment: insights from the summary statistics analysis

“…Spatial learning is necessary for orientation in space and the formation of episodic memories, which is the most severely affected aspect of memory in AD [ 37 ]. AD has been characterized by spatial disorientation presented from its early stages and degradation with disease progression [ 38 , 39 ]. Nest building is related to social behavior and characterizes activities of daily living, which are impaired in people affected by progressive neurodegenerative disorders such as AD and PD [ 40 ].…”