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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 28, 2026

Randomized, Triple-Blind, and Parallel-Controlled Trial of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Cognitive Rehabilitation after Stroke

Randomized, Triple-Blind, and Parallel-Controlled Trial of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Cognitive Rehabilitation after Stroke

Published on: June 6, 2025

Functional rehabilitation of partial cortical blindness?

Petra Stoerig¹

¹Institute of Experimental Psychology, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany. petra.stoerig@uni-duesseldorf.de

Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience

|November 11, 2008

Summary

Partial cortical blindness may not be permanent. Surviving visual pathways can be trained for functional recovery, even after a critical recovery window has passed, offering hope for improved vision.

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Ophthalmology
Neuroplasticity

Background:

Current understanding considers partial cortical blindness permanent after a limited recovery period.
Rehabilitation typically focuses on compensatory strategies for remaining vision.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the potential for functional recovery in areas of partial cortical blindness.
To explore the role of surviving visual pathways and post-lesion plasticity.

Main Methods:

Review of existing literature on visual cortex lesions and retinofugal pathways.
Analysis of studies demonstrating visual function in surviving pathways across species (cats, monkeys, humans).
Examination of evidence for perceptual learning and behavioral changes post-lesion.

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Randomized, Triple-Blind, and Parallel-Controlled Trial of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Cognitive Rehabilitation after Stroke

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A Gaze-Contingent Display Framework for Perceptual Learning Research with Simulated Central Vision Loss

A Gaze-Contingent Display Framework for Perceptual Learning Research with Simulated Central Vision Loss

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Main Results:

Despite widespread degeneration, retinofugal pathways crucial for vision survive primary visual cortex lesions.
These surviving pathways support visual functions that improve with practice and rehabilitation.
Post-lesion plasticity exists, with greater potential for recovery when lesions occur earlier in life, but improvements are also seen in adults.

Conclusions:

Partial cortical blindness may be amenable to functional recovery through targeted rehabilitation.
Perceptual learning in affected visual fields indicates that residual visual processes can be leveraged.
Further research is needed to optimize rehabilitation approaches for maximizing functional outcomes.