Experts from the University of Pisa, Italy have recently reached a groundbreaking understanding as to what happens to the human brain after a person experiences blindness. It was found that an adult brain can actually be taught on learning on how to be able to see again after such a long time that the person goes totally blind.
That's all made possible because of the help from a light sensitive electrode that is being implanted on the person's retina and of course, lots of practice and therapy sessions. In their press release as reported by CBS News, scientists has explained that although this is a considerable landmark when it comes to the study of blindness, it still cannot be thought of as the cure for blindness.
The study aims to offer a possible hint of hope to researchers in developing certain implants that can aid people whose eyesight have long gone. It provides answers to questions of whether the human brain is capable of of regaining its ability to process "restored or artificial visual inputs" even after the sense of sight had been lost.
As per Medical Daily, the National Eye Institute emphasizes that retinitis pigmentosa is genetic in nature. Thus, it has the ability to cause cells in the retina to break down which in turn, causes difficulty to a person especially with his peripheral vision and as well as the ability to see in the dark until it potentially leads to total blindness.
Research shows that about 1 in 4,000 people have this kind of disorder which can be diagnosed in as early as the childhood years of an individual. Moreover, the institute explains that although the Federal Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of Argus II implant on the retina, it still has not been proven to be as effective in wirelessly transmitting sorts of information from the camera to the electrode on the retina, which then sends the information to the brain.
Furthermore, the research recommends that a series of tests, studies and experiments must still be required before it can be put into any form of formal medical practice.
