Disturbances of Lower and Higher Visual Capacities Caused by Occipital Damage

During the First World War many soldiers suffered brain injuries, mostly from gunshot wounds. The localized nature of these injuries made them of special significance for neuropsychological studies and they were the subject of research by British and German psychologists and neurologists working in military hospitals.

The work done by Walther Poppelreuter in Germany is of particular interest. He was one of the first to design and use precise experimental methods for neuropsychological assessment and analysis. He was also one of the first to suggest a relatively specific processing of visual submodalities such as movement, depth, form, and colour in the prestriate areas. Much of his practical advice on the management of patients is still of value. Anyone concerned with brain injuries, especially of the occipital lobe, can still benefit from his contribution. Professor Zihl's translation makes this classic now available to a wider audience.