Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 21, 2026

Assessment of Audio-Tactile Sensory Substitution Training in Participants with Profound Deafness Using the Event-Related Potential Technique
Published on: September 7, 2022
Compensatory plasticity in the deaf brain: effects on perception of music
Arla Good1, Maureen J Reed2, Frank A Russo3
1Ryerson University, 350 Victoria St. Toronto, ON M5B 2K3, Canada. agood@psych.ryerson.ca.
Abstract:
When one sense is unavailable, sensory responsibilities shift and processing of the remaining modalities becomes enhanced to compensate for missing information. This shift, referred to as compensatory plasticity, results in a unique sensory experience for individuals who are deaf, including the manner in which music is perceived. This paper evaluates the neural, behavioural and cognitive evidence for compensatory plasticity following auditory deprivation and considers how this manifests in a unique experience of music that emphasizes visual and vibrotactile modalities.
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