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Updated: May 31, 2026
09:34
Structured Motor Rehabilitation After Selective Nerve Transfers
Published on: August 15, 2019
Sensory rehabilitation in the plastic brain
Olivier Collignon1, François Champoux, Patrice Voss
1Centre de Recherche en Neuropsychologie et Cognition, CERNEC, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada. olivier.collignon@umontreal.ca
Progress in Brain Research
|July 12, 2011
Summary
New brain plasticity research explores sensory rehabilitation for blindness and deafness. Understanding neuroplasticity guides the development of sensory substitution and neuroprostheses for improved outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Sensory Science
Background:
- The brain exhibits significant neuroplasticity, reorganizing itself after sensory deprivation.
- Deafness and blindness serve as key models for studying sensory deprivation effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review novel sensory rehabilitation strategies for individuals with sensory loss.
- To explore how understanding brain plasticity can inform the design of new therapies.
Main Methods:
- Consideration of sensory substitution techniques, leveraging intact senses to convey information.
- Analysis of neuroprostheses as an invasive approach to directly stimulate deprived sensory systems.
Main Results:
- Sensory substitution utilizes crossmodal plasticity to enhance remaining senses and potentially improve behavior.
- Neuroprostheses depend on the integrity of original sensory brain areas, which can be challenging due to compensatory reorganization.
Conclusions:
- Understanding neuroplastic changes in sensory-deprived individuals is crucial for developing effective rehabilitation.
- Both sensory substitution and neuroprostheses offer promising, yet distinct, avenues for restoring function.
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