1. The developing visual brain Concepts and Contexts

2. Neuroscience Perceptual and cognitive psychology Nature-nurture

3. Visual Systems Two streams in development– where and what Three streams of processing – where, what and how

4. Ventral and Dorsal Streams One stream for perceptual processing and one stream for controlling actions Ventral Pathways – contain specialised areas for face perception (who) Dorsal Stream – controls eye movements, reaching and grasping (how)(action)

5. Development Different rates of functional development within the two cortical streams

6. Dorsal - Action Multiple action modules First action module used for making exploratory eye movements from one object to another followed by reaching and later grasping – increasing need for more complex spatial information

7. Infants born preterm (born before 37 weeks from conception) Neurological problems – rupture of the fragile capillaries around spaces in the brain (ventricles) – if severe baby may die or survive with cerebral palsy

8. Retinopathy Of Prematurity (ROP) ROP rare in preterm infants with birthweights greater than 2000g but infants born weighing less than 1500g at birth are vulnerable to ROP whilst those born less than 1250g at birth with a gestational age less than 28 weeks are especially vulnerable.

9. CVI Children with CVI and ocular visual loss radically differ in their ability to process visual message. With ocular disorders, the signals may be incomplete, but the process of analysis is sound. Thus, visual enrichment and training in scanning more efficiently when the information is complex are successful techniques. For children with CVI, this approach does not work; in fact, visual input must be controlled to avoid "visual overloading … if the amount of visual information is increased, it becomes much more difficult for the children to process visual input. Visual images should be simple in form and presented in isolation.

10. CAUSATION Prenatal (before birth) Toxaemia, Intra-uterine infection Perinatal (birth to 28 days of life) Asphyxia, Intra-cerebral haemorrhage, Meningitis/Encephalitis Acquired Shunt malfunction, trauma, meningitis, cortical vein thrombosis, Cardiac arrest

11. APPEARANCE Does not look blind Blank facial expression Lack of visual communication skills Eye movements smooth, but aimless Nystagmus (rapid eye movement) rarely seen

12. VISUAL FUNCTION Visual function varies from day to day or hour to hour Limited visual attention and lacks visual curiosity Aware of distant objects, but not able to identify Spontaneous visual activity has short duration Visual learning tiring Closes eyes while listening

13. Visual Function Balance improved with eyes closed Looks away from people and objects Consistently looks to either side when visual looking When visually reaching looks with a slight downward gaze Turns head to side when reaching, as if using peripheral fields Uses touch to identify objects