Ptito et al. (2005)
From Psy3242
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“Cross-modal Plasticity Revealed by Electrotactile Stimulation of the Tongue in the Congenitally Blind” | “Cross-modal Plasticity Revealed by Electrotactile Stimulation of the Tongue in the Congenitally Blind” | ||
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| - | == | + | == Methodology == |
Subjects: 6 congenitally blind, five seeing controls, all with “normal” neurological states. | Subjects: 6 congenitally blind, five seeing controls, all with “normal” neurological states. | ||
TDU (Tongue Display Unit) “Tumbling T” on computer screen, electrical pulses delivered to tongue depending on how much of the T is within the cursor | TDU (Tongue Display Unit) “Tumbling T” on computer screen, electrical pulses delivered to tongue depending on how much of the T is within the cursor | ||
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Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) measured prior to training and tests | Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) measured prior to training and tests | ||
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| - | == | + | == Results == |
Control subjects activated primary somatosensory and motor cortex in completing the test | Control subjects activated primary somatosensory and motor cortex in completing the test | ||
Only blind subjects activated visual cortex | Only blind subjects activated visual cortex | ||
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| - | == | + | == Discussion == |
In blind subjects the visual cortex was stimulated just as much as in the normal vision subjects. The activation pattern in the blind following training shows remarkable similarities with that observed in normal seeing subjects during the performance of a visual orientation task” (611). | In blind subjects the visual cortex was stimulated just as much as in the normal vision subjects. The activation pattern in the blind following training shows remarkable similarities with that observed in normal seeing subjects during the performance of a visual orientation task” (611). | ||
Current revision as of 14:17, 29 April 2008
“Cross-modal Plasticity Revealed by Electrotactile Stimulation of the Tongue in the Congenitally Blind”
Methodology
Subjects: 6 congenitally blind, five seeing controls, all with “normal” neurological states. TDU (Tongue Display Unit) “Tumbling T” on computer screen, electrical pulses delivered to tongue depending on how much of the T is within the cursor Training (over seven days) Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) measured prior to training and tests
Results
Control subjects activated primary somatosensory and motor cortex in completing the test Only blind subjects activated visual cortex
Discussion
In blind subjects the visual cortex was stimulated just as much as in the normal vision subjects. The activation pattern in the blind following training shows remarkable similarities with that observed in normal seeing subjects during the performance of a visual orientation task” (611).
