Blind subjects process auditory spectral cues more efficiently than sighted individuals

• Published in: Experimental brain research Vol. 160; no. 2; pp. 194 - 202
• Main Authors: Doucet, M.-E., Guillemot, J.-P., Lassonde, M., Gagn, J.-P., Leclerc, C., Lepore, F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin Springer 01.01.2005; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Acoustic Stimulation; Acoustics; Adaptation, Physiological - physiology; Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Blindness; Blindness - physiopathology; Brain - physiology; Cues; Deafness; Ear and associated structures. Auditory pathways and centers. Hearing. Vocal organ. Phonation. Sound production. Echolocation; Ear, External - physiology; Functional Laterality - physiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Listening; Localization; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Models, Neurological; Motor control and motor pathways. Reflexes. Control centers of vegetative functions. Vestibular system and equilibration; Neuronal Plasticity - physiology; Ophthalmology; Owls; Sound; Sound Localization - physiology; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs; Vision disorders; Visual Perception - physiology; Human; Stimulus localization; Binaural localization; Vision disorder; Monoaural hearing; Spectral properties; Sound localization; Binaural hearing; Monaural localization; Free- field; Pinna; Eye disease; Acoustic properties; Acoustic stimulus; Blind humans; Pinna spectral transformations; Blindness; Information processing

The goal of the present study was to investigate how monaural sound localization on the horizontal plane in blind humans is affected by manipulating spectral cues. As reported in a previous study (Lessard et al. 1998), blind subjects are able to calibrate their auditory space despite their congenita...