Beat Detection Recruits the Visual Cortex in Early Blind Subjects
Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, here we monitored the brain activity in 12 early blind subjects and 12 blindfolded control subjects, matched for age, gender and musical experience, during a beat detection task. Subjects were required to discriminate regular (“beat”) from irregular (“no...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-03-01
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| Series: | Life |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/11/4/296 |
| _version_ | 1797539341062373376 |
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| author | Rodrigo Araneda Sandra Silva Moura Laurence Dricot Anne G. De Volder |
| author_facet | Rodrigo Araneda Sandra Silva Moura Laurence Dricot Anne G. De Volder |
| author_sort | Rodrigo Araneda |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, here we monitored the brain activity in 12 early blind subjects and 12 blindfolded control subjects, matched for age, gender and musical experience, during a beat detection task. Subjects were required to discriminate regular (“beat”) from irregular (“no beat”) rhythmic sequences composed of sounds or vibrotactile stimulations. In both sensory modalities, the brain activity differences between the two groups involved heteromodal brain regions including parietal and frontal cortical areas and occipital brain areas, that were recruited in the early blind group only. Accordingly, early blindness induced brain plasticity changes in the cerebral pathways involved in rhythm perception, with a participation of the visually deprived occipital brain areas whatever the sensory modality for input. We conclude that the visually deprived cortex switches its input modality from vision to audition and vibrotactile sense to perform this temporal processing task, supporting the concept of a metamodal, multisensory organization of this cortex. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T12:44:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8f91ffa59d644a2c990a28d46a1fe520 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-1729 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T12:44:40Z |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Life |
| spelling | doaj.art-8f91ffa59d644a2c990a28d46a1fe5202023-11-21T13:36:56ZengMDPI AGLife2075-17292021-03-0111429610.3390/life11040296Beat Detection Recruits the Visual Cortex in Early Blind SubjectsRodrigo Araneda0Sandra Silva Moura1Laurence Dricot2Anne G. De Volder3Motor Skill Learning and Intensive Neurorehabilitation Laboratory (MSL-IN), Institute of Neuroscience (IoNS; COSY Section), Université Catholique de Louvain, 1200 Brussels, BelgiumMotor Skill Learning and Intensive Neurorehabilitation Laboratory (MSL-IN), Institute of Neuroscience (IoNS; COSY Section), Université Catholique de Louvain, 1200 Brussels, BelgiumInstitute of Neuroscience (IoNS; NEUR Section), Université Catholique de Louvain, 1200 Brussels, BelgiumMotor Skill Learning and Intensive Neurorehabilitation Laboratory (MSL-IN), Institute of Neuroscience (IoNS; COSY Section), Université Catholique de Louvain, 1200 Brussels, BelgiumUsing functional magnetic resonance imaging, here we monitored the brain activity in 12 early blind subjects and 12 blindfolded control subjects, matched for age, gender and musical experience, during a beat detection task. Subjects were required to discriminate regular (“beat”) from irregular (“no beat”) rhythmic sequences composed of sounds or vibrotactile stimulations. In both sensory modalities, the brain activity differences between the two groups involved heteromodal brain regions including parietal and frontal cortical areas and occipital brain areas, that were recruited in the early blind group only. Accordingly, early blindness induced brain plasticity changes in the cerebral pathways involved in rhythm perception, with a participation of the visually deprived occipital brain areas whatever the sensory modality for input. We conclude that the visually deprived cortex switches its input modality from vision to audition and vibrotactile sense to perform this temporal processing task, supporting the concept of a metamodal, multisensory organization of this cortex.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/11/4/296beat perceptionrhythm perceptionmultisensory integrationtouchvisionearly blindness |
| spellingShingle | Rodrigo Araneda Sandra Silva Moura Laurence Dricot Anne G. De Volder Beat Detection Recruits the Visual Cortex in Early Blind Subjects Life beat perception rhythm perception multisensory integration touch vision early blindness |
| title | Beat Detection Recruits the Visual Cortex in Early Blind Subjects |
| title_full | Beat Detection Recruits the Visual Cortex in Early Blind Subjects |
| title_fullStr | Beat Detection Recruits the Visual Cortex in Early Blind Subjects |
| title_full_unstemmed | Beat Detection Recruits the Visual Cortex in Early Blind Subjects |
| title_short | Beat Detection Recruits the Visual Cortex in Early Blind Subjects |
| title_sort | beat detection recruits the visual cortex in early blind subjects |
| topic | beat perception rhythm perception multisensory integration touch vision early blindness |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/11/4/296 |
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