How Does Vision Affect Behavior?
Written on February 1, 2024
Summary
How Does Vision Affect Behavior? Vision plays a pivotal role in shaping our behavior, influencing how we interact with and respond to the world around us. With approximately 80% of sensory input being visual, our perception of the environment profoundly impacts our actions and reactions.
How Does Vision Affect Behavior?
Vision plays a pivotal role in shaping our behavior, influencing how we interact with and respond to the world around us. With approximately 80% of sensory input being visual, our perception of the environment profoundly impacts our actions and reactions.
There are two types of visual pathways focal and ambient:
- Focal vision: visual attention to the “what”; central vision; focus on an object of interest; creates visual perception; requires efficient eye teaming (clear focus on image with both eyes simultaneously); active/conscious skill
- Ambient vision: visual attention to the “where”; peripheral fields; creates spatial map of where our body is in relation to objects in our environment; assists with creating stability; inactive/unconscious skill
Perception leads to > prediction leads to > brain function: fight, flight, freeze or rest and digest response:
- Perception: the active process of bringing meaning to an object; creates prediction for motor responses
- Prediction: expectation of events not yet to come
- Fight, Flight, Freeze: The body’s stress/fear response
- Rest and Digest: The body’s calm/resting state
If there are deficits in visual function, deficits in visual perception occur which can lead to unpredictability and emotional instability
- Children with developmental delays are commonly found to have deficits in visual function
- Developmental obstacles disrupt critical voluntary and reflexive muscle responses and mental processes which impact behavior
- When the brain perceives danger, fight or flight responses are activated
What Can We Do to Help?
An Occupational Therapist can:
- Provide analysis on vision, somatosensory and vestibular (sensory) function
- Create multi-sensory interventions to rewire and fire neural responses
- Identify specific deficits and implement a treatment plan and suggestions for home
- Educate children and families on calming strategies to de-escalate aversive behaviors
- Facilitate fine/visual motor activities such as building with blocks, stringing beads, blowing bubbles, hitting a balloon, and more!
Written By: Jamie Blough, COTA
