A new research has raised hope for panic disorders and Alzheimer's. As per this research this new discovery can be dealt effectively by targeting a new brain area that specialises in peripheral vision.
Hsin-Hao Yu and Marcello Rosa, professor of physiology from Monash University, and their team of researchers made the discovery that a brain area, referred as prostriata, was specialised in detecting fast-moving objects in peripheral vision.
This area is situated in primitive part of the cerebral cortex and has characteristics different from any other visual area described before that includes a "direct line" of communication to brain areas controlling emotion and quick reactions, says the journal Current Biology.
The discovery was made while developing the Monash Vision Group's bionic eye. The discovery could lead to new treatments for panic disorders such as agoraphobia (fear of open spaces) and may extend into other medical areas including Alzheimer's treatment, says a university statement.
"This area is likely to be hyperactive in panic disorder, with agoraphobia. This knowledge could lead to treatment options for the hyperactivity, and therefore sensitivity to such disorders, particularly the fear of open spaces,"Hsin-Hao has been quoted as saying. .
"Correlation with previous studies also shows that prostriata is one of the first areas affected in Alzheimer's disease. This knowledge helps to explain spatial disorientation and the tendency to fall, which are among the earliest signs of a problem associated with Alzheimer's."
Rosa said that this region is equipped with ultra-fast responses to visual stimuli, simultaneously broadcasting information to brain areas that is responsible for attention, emotional and motor reactions. This finding is contrary to the current conception of how the brain processes visual information.
"This suggests a specialised brain circuit through which stimuli in peripheral vision can be fast-tracked to command quickly coordinated physical and emotional responses," Rosa said.
--with inputs from IANS
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