Blindness and Deafness
The sensory disabilities of hearing and vision loss can limit human functioning. Yet many individuals, who have these impairments, lead highly satisfactory lives and are able to adapt to and meet the demands of daily living. Helen Keller, both blind and deaf, reflected on her condition by saying, “Blindness separates us from things, but deafness separates us from people.” Consider her statement and decide to what extent you agree or disagree? How does blindness and deafness impact the lived experience of individuals? If you were in a position to choose one disability over the other, which would you choose and why?
With these thoughts in mind:
Post by Day 4 your position on whether or not you agree with Helen Keller’s statement. Then explain whether blindness or deafness is more advantageous or limiting as a disability and explain why. Support your postings and responses with specific references to the literature and Learning Resources.
Readings
Breedlove, S. M., & Watson, N. V. (2018). Behavioral neuroscience (8th ed.) New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
Chapter 9, “Hearing, Vestibular Perception, Taste, and Smell”
Chapter 10, “Vision: From Eye to Brain”
James, T. W., Culham, J., Humphrey, G. K., Milner, A.D., & Goodale, M. A. (2003). Ventral occipital lesions impair object recognition but not object-directed grasping: an fMRI study. Brain, 126(Pt 11), 2463–75. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14506065
Media
In Exploratorium: The Museum of Science, Art, and Human Perception. (2011). Seeing. Retrieved from http://www.exploratorium.edu/explore/seeing/
Purves-Lab . (2005). See for yourself. Retrieved from http://www.purveslab.net/seeforyourself/
Sinauer Associates, Inc. (Producer). (2010). Sound transduction. Available from https://www.bn8e.com/
Sinauer Associates, Inc. (Producer). (2010). Visual pathways in the human brain. Available from https://www.bn8e.com/
Sinauer Associates, Inc. (Producer). (2010). Receptive fields in the retina. Available from https://www.bn8e.com/
Optional Resources
Knox, R. (2008). After hand transplant, patient’s brain adapts. NPR. Retrieved from http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=95593579
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