Changes in Early Cortical Visual Processing Predict Enhanced Reactivity in Deaf Individuals

摘要: Individuals with profound deafness rely critically on vision to interact their environment. Improvement of visual performance as a consequence auditory deprivation is assumed result from cross-modal changes occurring in late stages processing. Here we measured reaction times and event-related potentials (ERPs) profoundly deaf adults hearing controls during speeded detection task, assess what extent the enhanced reactivity individuals could reflect plastic early cortical processing stimulus. We found that subjects were faster than at detecting targets, regardless location field (peripheral or peri-foveal). This behavioural facilitation was associated ERP starting first detectable response striate cortex (C1 component) about 80 ms after stimulus onset, P1 complex (100–150 ms). In addition, peak amplitudes predicted subjects, whereas correlated only later These findings show long-term can alter earliest stages. Furthermore, our results provide evidence co-variation between modified brain activity (cortical plasticity) enhancement this sensory-deprived population.