The neurological basis for non-visual illustration

Abstract

This article breaks down the neurological process of visual processing and mental imagery to explore the possibilities of applying illustrative methods to create non-visual illustration for visually impaired people. With illustration as a visual means of communication, this article poses the question of whether there is a theoretical precedent for creating visual imagery in the minds of blind people. Can non-visual illustration be effective? This is explored through looking at the functions of visual perception, visual imagery and mental imagery, and how these manifest in the visual cortex of the brain. This article considers the perceptions of blind people and whether illustrational methods can be used in implementing non-visual illustration.