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Cortical Plasticity and Reorganization in Severe Vision Loss

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Visual Prosthetics

Abstract

Blind individuals make striking adjustments to their loss of sight. Current experimental evidence suggests that these behavioral adaptations are based on dramatic neurophysiological changes at the level of the brain. In particular, is the fact that the occipital cortex (the area of the brain normally ascribed with visual processing) is functionally recruited to process non-visual sensory modalities. The impact of these neuroplastic changes on the success of implementing a rehabilitative strategy such as a visual based neuroprosthesis remains unknown. Here we discuss several factors such as potential limits of plasticity, potential mechanisms and methods to modulate neuroplasticity so as to promote rehabilitative potential. We should thus remain aware that some of the impediments to future progress in visual neuroprosthesis development are not only technical, engineering and surgical issues, but are also related to the development and implementation of strategies designed to interface with the visually deprived brain. New evidence regarding experience-dependent plasticity in the adult brain together with the achievements in other neuroprosthesis efforts allows cautious optimism that some degree of functional vision can be restored in profoundly blind individuals. However, it is essential that future research explore the mechanisms underlying brain plasticity following the loss of vision. These new findings should be integrated in order to enhance the development of suitable rehabilitative strategies for each particular type of visual neuroprosthesis and achieve the best possible behavioral outcome for a given person using these devices.

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Abbreviations

AMD:

Age-related macular degeneration

d-AMPH:

d-Amphetamine

rTMS:

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation

SPECT:

Single photon emission computerized tomography

tDCS:

Transcranial direct current stimulation

TMS:

Transcranial magnetic stimulation

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  1. Instituto de Bioingeniería, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Avda de la Universidad s/n, 03202, Elche (Alicante), Spain

    Eduardo Fernández

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  1. Eduardo Fernández
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  2. Lotfi B. Merabet
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Correspondence to Eduardo Fernández .

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  1. , Lions Vision Research & Rehabilitation C, Johns Hopkins University School of Medic, 550 N. Broadway, Baltimore, 21205-2020, Maryland, USA

    Gislin Dagnelie

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Fernández, E., Merabet, L.B. (2011). Cortical Plasticity and Reorganization in Severe Vision Loss. In: Dagnelie, G. (eds) Visual Prosthetics. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-0754-7_4

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