Neural plasticity in processing of sound location by the early blind: an event-related potential study

Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol. 1992 Sep-Oct;84(5):469-72. doi: 10.1016/0168-5597(92)90034-9.

Abstract

Event-related potentials (ERPs) to a change in the locus of origin of a repetitive sound were studied in early blind human subjects. It was found that the N2b component of the ERP was posteriorly distributed on the scalp to that in the sighted control subjects. This suggests that the blind might use, to a larger extent than the sighted, parietal, or perhaps even occipital, brain areas in sound localization. The present results thus appear to demonstrate plastic changes in neural populations involved in processing of auditory space following early loss of vision.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acoustic Stimulation
  • Adult
  • Blindness / physiopathology*
  • Electroencephalography
  • Evoked Potentials / physiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Neuronal Plasticity / physiology*
  • Reaction Time / physiology
  • Sound Localization / physiology*