Neural plasticity in blind cochlear implant users

This study, using positron emission tomography, investigates the cortical activation generated by auditory stimulation in two congenitally blind cochlear implant users. In the patient with a relatively short history of deafness, activity increased in both auditory cortices and fell in the visual cor...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inCochlear implants international Vol. 9; no. 4; pp. 177 - 185
Main Authors Green, Kevin MJ, Ramsden, Richard T, Julyan, Peter J, Hastings, David L
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published England Taylor & Francis 01.12.2008
Subjects
Acoustic Stimulation
Adult
auditory
Auditory Cortex - physiopathology
cochlear implantation
Cochlear Implants
deaf
Deaf-Blind Disorders - physiopathology
Deaf-Blind Disorders - rehabilitation
Humans
neural plasticity
Neuronal Plasticity
Positron-Emission Tomography
visual cortex
Visual Cortex - physiopathology
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Summary:This study, using positron emission tomography, investigates the cortical activation generated by auditory stimulation in two congenitally blind cochlear implant users. In the patient with a relatively short history of deafness, activity increased in both auditory cortices and fell in the visual cortices. The patient with a longer period of deafness had greater activation of the visual cortices than the auditory cortices. A similar pattern of activity was seen when this patient subsequently had a second cochlear implant inserted into the opposite ear. The neural pathways formed after the restoration of auditory input in the congenitally blind can activate either the auditory or visual cortices. We suggest that the visual cortical activation demonstrated is of functional significance. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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ISSN:1467-0100
1754-7628
DOI:10.1179/cim.2008.9.4.177