Longitudinal stability of individual brain plasticity patterns in blindness

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Neuroplasticity
• Sensory Substitution

Background:

• The primary visual cortex (V1) in individuals born blind is recruited for various non-visual functions, including audition, touch, language, and memory.
• This raises questions about whether V1's role is flexible and adaptable over time or if plasticity patterns are idiosyncratic to individuals.

Conclusions:

• The primary visual cortex (V1) in the blind exhibits stable, individual-specific functional connectivity and reorganization patterns.
• These stable individual differences in V1 plasticity may represent potential neuromarkers for developing personalized sight rehabilitation and assistive strategies.