(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- An astonishing feat by one blind man is giving hope to those with brain damage and disability.
In a recent test, a blind man perfectly navigated a complicated obstacle course, not once colliding with a barrier. The man was left blind after two consecutive strokes caused permanent damage in both hemispheres of his brain. Researchers say this reveals the importance of studying alternative routes in the brain to help compensate for damaged neural pathways.
This particular patient was also known to have "blindsight" ? the ability to detect things without being able to see them. For example, he reacts to facial expressions of fear, anger or joy like sighted patients do, despite the fact he is completely blind. Doctors say his subconscious use of alternative brain pathways are likely behind his remarkable performances.
"This is absolutely the first study of this ability in humans," Beatrice de Gelder, Ph.D., of Tilburg University, The Netherlands and of the Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging and Harvard Medical School, was quoted as saying. "It shows us the importance of these evolutionarily ancient visual paths. They contribute more than we think they do for us to function in the real world."
Doctors say these results offer an important message to patients with brain damage. "There is much that patients can do outside the grip of their being too aware of what they cannot do," Dr. de Gelder said.
SOURCE: Current Biology, 2008
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