Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Vision01:24

Vision

Vision is the result of light being detected and transduced into neural signals by the retina of the eye. This information is then further analyzed and interpreted by the brain. First, light enters the front of the eye and is focused by the cornea and lens onto the retina—a thin sheet of neural tissue lining the back of the eye. Because of refraction through the convex lens of the eye, images are projected onto the retina upside-down and reversed.
Plasticity00:58

Plasticity

Plasticity is the property where an object loses its elasticity and undergoes irreversible deformation, even after the deformation forces are eliminated. If a material deforms irreversibly without increasing stress or load, then this is called ideal plasticity. For example, when a force is applied to an aluminum rod, it changes its shape, but it does not return to its original shape once the force is removed. Plastic deformation or ductility is thus a permanent deformation or change in the...
Photoreceptors and Visual Pathways01:22

Photoreceptors and Visual Pathways

At the molecular level, visual signals trigger transformations in photopigment molecules, resulting in changes in the photoreceptor cell's membrane potential. The photon's energy level is denoted by its wavelength, with each specific wavelength of visible light associated with a distinct color. The spectral range of visible light, classified as electromagnetic radiation, spans from 380 to 720 nm. Electromagnetic radiation wavelengths exceeding 720 nm fall under the infrared category, whereas...
Neuroplasticity01:01

Neuroplasticity

Neuroplasticity reflects the brain's remarkable capacity to adapt and evolve, responding dynamically to learning, experiences, or injury by reorganizing its neural circuitry. This reorganization involves creating new neural connections and refining old ones through a series of biological processes that contribute to the brain's lifelong development and adaptability.
Visual Agnosia01:12

Visual Agnosia

Visual agnosia is a condition characterized by the inability to recognize visually presented objects despite having normal vision. For instance, a person with visual agnosia can describe the shape and color of an object but cannot identify or name it. This impairment does not affect their visual field, acuity, color vision, brightness discrimination, language, or memory. An example of this condition in a social setting is someone at a dinner party asking for "that silver thing with a round end"...
Prosopagnosia01:24

Prosopagnosia

Prosopagnosia, also known as face blindness, is the inability to recognize faces. In severe cases, individuals with prosopagnosia may not recognize close family members, including parents and spouses, by their faces. For instance, someone with prosopagnosia might walk past their child in a crowd, only realizing their mistake upon noticing their child's distinctive backpack or favorite jacket. Prosopagnosia specifically impairs facial recognition, while the recognition of other objects or...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Evolution of the frontal aslant tract and implications for primate vocalization and human speech.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

Rapid sequential activation from A1 to V1 in congenitally blind and sighted subjects.

Brain research bulletin·2026
Same author

Cosmetic after-feel modulates brain activity in sensory and reward networks: an fMRI study.

Frontiers in neuroscience·2026
Same author

Pharmacokinetics of oral Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) administration in vervet monkeys.

Journal of cannabis research·2026
Same author

Pathways of Cross-Modal Access to the Visual Cortex in Late Blindness.

Research square·2026
Same author

Impact of prenatal alcohol exposure in midlife: an assessment of the retina in the vervet monkey.

Experimental eye research·2025
Same journal

Correction: Zhang et al. Caudate-Centric Triphasic Network Reconfiguration Characterizes the Early Progression of Cognitive Impairment in Parkinson's Disease: A Simultaneous PET/fMRI Study. Journal of Integrative Neuroscience. 2026; 25(2): 46634.

Journal of integrative neuroscience·2026
Same journal

Long-Term Effects of Early Postnatal Administration of R-Baclofen on Neuronal Properties in the <i>Cntnap2</i> Knockout Rat.

Journal of integrative neuroscience·2026
Same journal

Efficacy and Safety of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Multiple Health Outcomes in Neurological Disorders: An Umbrella Review of Meta-Analyses of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Journal of integrative neuroscience·2026
Same journal

Exploring the Microbiome-Kynurenine Axis in Mild Cognitive Impairment: From Gut to Brain.

Journal of integrative neuroscience·2026
Same journal

Assessing Cumulative Mental Fatigue via EEG-Based Machine Learning in a Multiday High-Intensity Contest.

Journal of integrative neuroscience·2026
Same journal

Functional Diversity of Mouse dLGN Neurons and Modulation of Their Encoding Properties by Superior Colliculus.

Journal of integrative neuroscience·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 7, 2026

A Highly Reproducible and Straightforward Method to Perform In Vivo Ocular Enucleation in the Mouse after Eye Opening
05:29

A Highly Reproducible and Straightforward Method to Perform In Vivo Ocular Enucleation in the Mouse after Eye Opening

Published on: October 6, 2014

Cross-modal plasticity in early blindness.

Maurice Ptito1, Ron Kupers

  • 1Ecole d'Optométrie, Université de Montréal, CP 6128, Succursale Centre-ville, Canada. maurice.ptito@umontreal.ca

Journal of Integrative Neuroscience
|December 31, 2005
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The brain can rewire itself after vision loss, forming new pathways. This cross-modal plasticity allows sensory information to be rerouted, demonstrating the brain

More Related Videos

Monocular Visual Deprivation and Ocular Dominance Plasticity Measurement in the Mouse Primary Visual Cortex
08:42

Monocular Visual Deprivation and Ocular Dominance Plasticity Measurement in the Mouse Primary Visual Cortex

Published on: February 8, 2020

A Gaze-Contingent Display Framework for Perceptual Learning Research with Simulated Central Vision Loss
07:12

A Gaze-Contingent Display Framework for Perceptual Learning Research with Simulated Central Vision Loss

Published on: April 11, 2025

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 7, 2026

A Highly Reproducible and Straightforward Method to Perform In Vivo Ocular Enucleation in the Mouse after Eye Opening
05:29

A Highly Reproducible and Straightforward Method to Perform In Vivo Ocular Enucleation in the Mouse after Eye Opening

Published on: October 6, 2014

Monocular Visual Deprivation and Ocular Dominance Plasticity Measurement in the Mouse Primary Visual Cortex
08:42

Monocular Visual Deprivation and Ocular Dominance Plasticity Measurement in the Mouse Primary Visual Cortex

Published on: February 8, 2020

A Gaze-Contingent Display Framework for Perceptual Learning Research with Simulated Central Vision Loss
07:12

A Gaze-Contingent Display Framework for Perceptual Learning Research with Simulated Central Vision Loss

Published on: April 11, 2025

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Neurobiology
  • Sensory processing

Background:

  • The brain exhibits significant neuroplasticity, especially after early sensory deprivation or neonatal brain damage.
  • Cross-modal plasticity allows the brain to reorganize and adapt to the loss of sensory input, such as visual cortex or eyes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate cross-modal plasticity in response to visual system deprivation using two distinct models.
  • To demonstrate the brain's capacity to reroute sensory information and form functional new connections.

Main Methods:

  • Utilizing hamster models with congenital visual system deprivation to study retinal projections.
  • Employing electrotactile stimulation and functional brain imaging in congenitally blind human subjects.

Main Results:

  • Hamsters deprived of vision developed novel retinal projections to the auditory thalamus, forming functional synapses and projecting to the auditory cortex.
  • These "rewired" hamsters performed visual discrimination tasks comparably to normal hamsters.
  • Congenitally blind humans using electrotactile devices showed visual cortex activation, unlike blindfolded controls.

Conclusions:

  • Early sensory deprivation triggers cross-modal plastic processes, enabling the brain to adapt to significant sensory loss.
  • The findings suggest an unmasking of existing cortico-cortical connections in blind individuals, facilitating somatosensory information transfer to the visual cortex.