CogniFit - Width of Field of View

What is Field of Vision or Field of View?

Field of view is the space in which our visual system can detect the presence of stimuli. In other words, field of vision is what the eye sees when you look at a static point, both straight ahead and around you (periphery). Field of vision makes it possible to perceive your daily environment.

In general, the normal limits for field of view are the following:

• Nasal portion: Refers to the space that is between the field of view towards the nose. The normal limit in this field of view is 60º (horizontal axis).
• Temporal portion: Refers to the space between field of vision towards the ear. The normal limit in this part is 100º (horizontal axis)
• Superior portion: Space between the center of field of vision and up. The normal limit for this field of vision is 60º (vertical axis).
• Inferior portion: Space from the center of field of vision and down. The normal limit for this field of view is 75º (vertical axis).

A reduction in any of these limits of the field of view would alter the person's field of view when looking a specific point. This may cause difficulties when moving in their environment.

Examples of Field of View

• Field of view is one of the most important abilities when it comes to safe driving. When you're getting ready to pass someone on the road, you have to look at your mirrors and the lane you will move to, without taking your eyes off of the road in front of you. Field of view makes this possible.
• When you're in class, you have to be able to see the whole board or book that you're using in order to make sure that you don't miss any information. A poor field of view may hinder these abilities and affect academic performance.
• Some jobs require an exceptional field of vision, like a security guard who has to keep an eye on his or her surroundings and the security cameras. Their field of vision allows them to do this easily and efficiently, making it possible to protect themselves and the place where they are working.
• Cooking and taking care of a child requires field of vision so that you can watch the stove and keep an eye on the child. This is what we call "having eyes on the back of your head". In this case, field of view helps you be more efficient and productive.

Disorders associated with problems in field of view

A weak or impaired field of view is usually shown as a loss of vision or blindness in a specific area of the field of view. The problem that leads to these impairments may be caused by alterations of different levels:

• Ocular level: Damage to the retina's receptors may cause blindness in the same area of field of view
• Connection Level: Damage to the neuron's axon that brings information from the eye to the brain may also cause reduced field of view. It's important to mention that depending on where the damage is (before or after the optic chiasma), the blindness pattern will be different.
• Brain Level: Damage to the primary vision areas (located in the occipital lobe) may cause a reduction in field of vision similar to what eye damage would produce, due to cerebral retinopathy. However, the pattern of blindness will be inverted (in both the horizontal and vertical axis).

The type of damage may alter the field of view depending on the level. The most common are generally brain tumors, stroke, or cranioencephalic disorders (all on the cerebral level). However, there is a wide variety of disorders that may affect field of vision, like glaucoma, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, hyperthyroidism , retinal detachment, optic glioma, hypertension, along with many others.

These pathologies may cause a variety of disorders, like scotoma (a mark or vision disability that forms a spot of different sizes, usually located in the center of the field of view) or hemianopia (blindness in half of the field of vision. There are different kinds, depending on the areas affected).

How can you measure and assess field of view?

Field of view makes it possible to perceive stimuli from the environment without having to shift your view to a specific object. This makes it possible to do multiple activities at a time, which is why knowing how good your field of view is can be helpful in a variety of areas. Academic areas: Knowing if a student has trouble seeing the board or reading their notes, Clinical settings: Helps the doctor know if the patient can safely drive, or Professional areas: Understand if a worker will be able to adequately perform his or her job.

With the complete neuropsychological assessment from CogniFit, you can precisely measure field of vision and important cognitive skills. The task that measures field of view is based on the Useful Field of Vision (UFOV) test, along with other neuropsychological assessment batteries that assess field of view. This test is designed specifically to measure field of vision, but it will also require attention, visual short-term memory, visual perception, and spatial perception.

• Visual Capacity Test WIFIVI: A silhouette of an object will appear in the middle of the screen and disappear almost immediately. On the next screen, the same image will be presented, along with two others, and the user must choose which was the image shown on the first screen. With each round, the image will be displayed for a shorter amount of time. As the activity progresses, it will become more challenging and the user will have to remember the placement of a second image while remembering which image was displayed in the middle.

How to improve or rehabilitate field of view?

Field of vision may sometimes improve by training and CogniFit may help by offering a personalized training program.

Neuroplasticity is the basis for the rehabilitation of field of view and our cognitive abilities. CogniFit has a complete battery of tests designed to rehabilitate the deficits in field of view and other cognitive skills. Like our muscles, the brain and its connections can be strengthened through practice and exercise, which is why frequently training field of view can help improve it over time.

The CogniFit has a team of professionals specialized in the study of synaptic plasticity and neurogenesis processes, which is the basis for the personalized cognitive stimulation program. This personalized program automatically adjusts to the specific needs of each user, ensuring that they have access to the exercises they need most. The program starts with a precise cognitive assessment, which will evaluate a variety of cognitive skills and field of view. With these results, the cognitive stimulation program will automatically offer a personalized program to help improve field of view and the cognitive functions that tested low in the assessment.

The key to successful brain training is a consistency and challenge. CogniFit's assessment and rehabilitation tools to optimize field of view only require 15 minutes a day, two to three times a week.

The cognitive stimulation program from CogniFit is available online and on mobile devices. There are a number of interactive games and exercises that can be played anywhere. After each session, CogniFit will show you a detailed graph of the user's cognitive progress.