Visual Deprivation Effects on Somatosensory and Visual Systems: Behavioral and Cortical Changes

摘要: Blind people must adjust by using their remaining senses to interact with environment. Adjustments occur even in adults late-onset blindness and transiently visually deprived sighted individuals. Section 6.18.1 discusses reading braille as an example adjustment that depends on information transmitted from specific mechanoreceptors the fingertips. When blind learn discriminate subtle patterns of raised dots translate these into linguistic information, they extensively practice motor perceptual skills. Additionally, utilize nonvisual all aspects daily existence. As a consequence, individuals exhibit performance advantages attending touch. They also excel at several auditory tasks, but skills will not be considered here. 6.18.2 argues heightened acuity occurs tasks require processing tactile information. Furthermore, prior visual experience influences, especially, spatial perception, this impacts artistic cognitive people. 6.18.3 reviews evidence expanded somatosensory cortex representation for finger(s) is alteration possibly underlies enhanced acuity. However, findings do consistently indicate reorganization, nor reveal underlying Hebbian mechanism synaptic efficacy. 6.18.4 explores more dramatic plasticity – cross-modal inputs activating occipital cortex. Visual deprivation, whether permanent or transient through blindfolding persons, apparently does silence cortex, which adjusts modalities. A significant question altered activity provides relevant adjustments blindness. Evidence reviewed regarding processes activate early- An important issue reorganized follows functional subdivisions resemble those identified 6.18.5 examines inherent capabilities, unmasked contribute responses reflect new physiologically connections. Possible anatomical physiological sources are described. limited links explicit reorganization mostly hypothetical discussion considers reorganizes changes effective intracortical connectivity multisensory areas.