How Does Becoming Blind Affect Other Senses?
Jun 14, 2011 | By Mary Osborne
Date of Article: June 14, 2011
Author: Mary Osborne
Date of Study: Unknown
Who did the Study: Several researchers from Pascal Belin of the University of Montreal, Blind Children's Resource Center, and UCLA's Laboratory of Neuroimaging
Type of Research: Basic
In this article, researchers put together their findings about the lives of blind people and their brain’s adaptions. Researchers from several institutions such as Pascal Belin of the University of Montreal, Blind Children's Resource Center, and UCLA's Laboratory of Neuroimaging all put together their findings on how exactly the brain adapts to not being able to see. Over a period of time researchers used neuroimaging technology (most likely an MRI) to observe the brain of a blind person. They found that the brain structurally changes itself around; the brain actually compensates for not having the sense of sight. Other areas of the brain related to memory and the other senses enlarged makes this study correlational because the size of certain areas of the brain seem to influence the abilities of the other senses that compensate for the lost sense. Researchers also believe that unlike a sighted child, a blind child may actually process sound through both his auditory and visual cortex. This research shows that the brain can adapt and almost make up for one’s blindness.
This research helps us understand how the brain of a person with an impairment, such as blindness, functions. If one sense shuts down, the brain will try to make up for it. In the future, perhaps scientists will be able to discover a way to treat the damage in one’s visual or auditory cortex. Maybe even further research regarding how impaired people are more gifted and talented in certain hobbies or academics would be an interesting study researchers could follow up on. Although the brain enlarges certain areas when others do not work properly, there is always room for improvement. Scientists have already invented the cochlear implant and similar devices, so at this rate in technology it seems very possible to invent something even more efficient for a person with an impairment.
Comments (1)
Brent Jones said
at 10:01 am on May 15, 2012
Good. This is the essence of neuroplasticity.
Remember that with a blind person it isn't the visual cortex that is damaged as you said, but rather their eyes. That is why the visual cortex seeks something else to do.
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