Welcome back to part 3 of the “Watch the Ball” Series! Before continuing, we recommend reading part 1 and part 2. In this third part, we will talk about how your visual system works, but in a less complicated way. Ever wonder how you see the world around you, let alone follow a tiny black ball zip around a squash court? Read on!
Of course, the visual system in the human body is quite COMPLEX, far beyond what we can explain in our post today. We will break it down into a much simpler version so we understand the BASICS and cover the IMPORTANT stuff, particularly in terms of you as a squash player or enthusiast.
The visual system is comprised of both an optical system and a perceptual system. Both systems work together to create “perfect pictures”. The optical system’s role is to send information, in the form of neural signals, to the brain for further processing. The neural signals travel through either a dorsal or ventral stream. The ventral stream functions to process information regarding SPECIFIC objects in our environment, or our central vision. These instances are linked to our conscious control as we DIRECT our FOCUS to specific objects. On the other hand, the dorsal stream functions to process information about movements or actions that occur around the body, basically responsible for our peripheral vision. Of course, all of these processes occur naturally in our subconscious. When we move around, like playing a sport, both systems operate simultaneously to identify the object you are focusing on, how the object is placed in the environment, and where the object is located in relation to your body.
So, now you have a very basic understanding of how your brain, eyes, and entire visual system work to perceive everything around you! We often take these abilities for granted, but taking a step back, you remember how incredible the body is. Keep those eyes sharp and keep watching the ball like a PRO!
Of course, the visual system in the human body is quite COMPLEX, far beyond what we can explain in our post today. We will break it down into a much simpler version so we understand the BASICS and cover the IMPORTANT stuff, particularly in terms of you as a squash player or enthusiast.
The visual system is comprised of both an optical system and a perceptual system. Both systems work together to create “perfect pictures”. The optical system’s role is to send information, in the form of neural signals, to the brain for further processing. The neural signals travel through either a dorsal or ventral stream. The ventral stream functions to process information regarding SPECIFIC objects in our environment, or our central vision. These instances are linked to our conscious control as we DIRECT our FOCUS to specific objects. On the other hand, the dorsal stream functions to process information about movements or actions that occur around the body, basically responsible for our peripheral vision. Of course, all of these processes occur naturally in our subconscious. When we move around, like playing a sport, both systems operate simultaneously to identify the object you are focusing on, how the object is placed in the environment, and where the object is located in relation to your body.
So, now you have a very basic understanding of how your brain, eyes, and entire visual system work to perceive everything around you! We often take these abilities for granted, but taking a step back, you remember how incredible the body is. Keep those eyes sharp and keep watching the ball like a PRO!
RSS Feed
