This review of the literature examines studies of the use of mental images by the blind in such cognitive tasks as verbal problem solving and spatial reasoning. It proposes that because mental images available to them are not adequate for certain cognitive tasks, the congenitally blind may rely on different modes of representation to compensate for their limited perception of and experience with the environment.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BayleyN.Bayley scales of infant development.New York: Psychological Corp., 1969.
2.
BoehmA. E.Boehm test of basic concepts.New York: Psychological Corp., 1971.
3.
BrunerJ.On cognitive growth. In Bruner (eds), Studies in cognitive growth.New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1966.
4.
CarrollJ. B.Language and thought.Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, 1964.
5.
CaseyS. M.Cognitive mapping by the blind.Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness.1978, 72, 297–301.
6.
CatonH. R.The development and evaluation of a tactile analog to the Boehm Test of Basic Concepts. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. University of KentuckyLexington, 1975.
7.
CutsforthT. D.The blind in school and society.New York: American Foundation for the Blind, 1951.
8.
CutsforthT. D.The unreality of words to the blind.Teachers Forum.1932, 4, 86–89.
9.
DokeckiP. C.Verbalism and the blind: A critical review of the concept and the literature.Exceptional Children, 1966, 32, 525–530.
10.
FosterE. L.Cognitive development and mental imagery in congenitally and adventitiously blind children. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. City University of New York1977.
11.
FoulkeE.A multi-sensory test of conceptual ability.New Outlook for the Blind.1964, 58, 75–77.
12.
FraibergS.Insights from the blind.New York: Basic Books, 1977.
13.
FraibergS., and AdelsonE.Self-representation in young blind children, in JastrzembskaZ. S. (ed.). The effects of blindness and other impairments on early development.New York: American Foundation for the Blind, 1976.
14.
FriedmanJ., and PasnakR.Attainment of classification and seriation concepts by blind and sighted subjects.Education of the Visually Handicapped.1973, 5, 55–62.
15.
GreenfieldP. M., ReichL. M., and OlverR. R.On culture and equivalence: II. In BrunerJ. (eds.), Studies in cognitive growth.New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1966.
16.
HansM. A.Modality-specific imagery in the verbal processes of blind and sighted subjects. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, State University of New York1976.
17.
HarleyR. K.Jr.Verbalism among blind children.New York: American Foundation for the Blind, 1969, 80.
18.
HartlageL. C.Development of spatial concepts in visually deprived children.Perceptual and Motor Skills, 1976, 42, 255–258.
19.
HatwellY.Privation sensorielle et intelligence.Paris, France: Presses Universitaires de France, 1966.
20.
HigginsL. C.Classification in the congenitally blind.New York: American Foundation for the Blind, 1973.
21.
KephartJ. G., KephartC. P., and SchwarzG. C.A journey into the world of the blind child.Exceptional Children, 1974, 40, 421–427.
22.
MarmorG.S . Age at onset of blindness and the development of the semantics of color names.Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 1978, 25, 267–278.
23.
MarmorG. S., and ZabackL. A.Mental rotation by the blind: Does mental rotation depend on visual imagery?Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 1976, 54, 515–521.
24.
NolanC. Y.On the unreality of words to the blind.New Outlook for the Blind, 1960, 54100–102.
25.
OlverR., and HornsbyJ.On equivalence. In BrunerJ. (eds.), Studies in cognitive growth.New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1966.
26.
OmwakeE., and SolnitA.It isn't fair: The treatment of a blind child.Psychoanalytic Study of the Child, 1961, 16, 352–404.
27.
PaivioA.Imagery and verbal processes.New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston, 1971.
28.
PaivioA., and OkovitaH. W.Word imagery modalities and associative learning in blind and sighted subjects.Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior, 1971, 10, 506–510.
29.
RubinE.Abstract functioning in the blind.New York: American Foundation for the Blind, 1964.
30.
SchlaegelT. F.The dominant method of imagery in blind as compared to sighted adolescents.Journal of Genetic Psychology, 1953, 83, 265–277.
31.
StephensB., and SimpkinsK.The reasoning, moral judgment, and moral conduct of the congenitally blind. Final Project Report H23-3197, Office of Education, Bureau of Education for the Handicapped, 1974.
32.
TillmanM. H.The performance of blind and sighted children on the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children: Study II.International Journal for the Education of the Blind, 1967, 16, 106–112.
33.
WarrenD. H.Childhood visual impairment: Sources and uses of knowledge. Paper presented at the symposium on Research Directions in Childhood Visual Impairment, University of Michigan, September 14–16, 1977.
34.
ZweibelsonI., and BargC.Concept development of blind children.New Outlook for the Blind, 1967, 61, 218–222.