Viewpoint on Crossmodal Neural Plasticity

Crossmodal neural plasticity, the brain's ability to adapt in response to sensory deprivation, serves as a primary model for understanding the multifaceted interplay between intrinsic neurobiological constraints and environmental experience in brain development. In this viewpoint, Olivier Collignon and Ella Striem-Amit engage in a collaborative dialogue exploring the fundamental principles of brain organization in individuals born with blindness, deafness, or without hands. The discussion evaluates current shifts in the field, including the move toward high-resolution neuroimaging, deep data acquisition, computational modeling, and the necessity of open science to better characterize unique populations. By bridging different theoretical perspectives, this Q&A provides a summary of the field's progress and identifies emerging methodological and conceptual directions for future research.