What is it about?
How are the functions of the brain reorganized when a sensory input is no longer available? Evidence suggests that other senses may compensate; for example, D/deaf adults outperform hearing controls in certain visual tasks, particularly in the far periphery. We mapped early visual structures in the brain and found they allocated more neural resources to processing far peripheral vision in early D/deaf compared to hearing adults. Moreover, this redistribution of resources appeared to be augmented by visual sign language experience.
Featured Image
Photo by White Malaki on Unsplash
Why is it important?
While hearing people may rely on sound to notice events outside their direct line of sight, D/deaf individuals use their peripheral vision as an early warning system to detect sudden movement. We used a novel approach to test the far periphery where visual sensitivity differences between D/deaf and hearing adults are greatest, an area overlooked by previous brain-mapping studies. Our findings suggest that lifelong sensory experience can physically reshape the brain's earliest visual pathways to support peripheral vision.
Perspectives
This represents a collaboration between researchers at the Universities of York and Sheffield, using advanced brain imaging methods to investigate changes in the brain related to the different sensory experience of D/deaf adults. We especially want to thank the D/deaf individuals and communities that dedicated their valuable time and energy to making this study possible. I personally learned a great deal about the varied real-life experiences of D/deaf individuals, and hope that this study helps to raise awareness about their potential and unique contribution to society.
Heidi Baseler
University of York
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Retinotopic remapping of the visual system in deaf adults, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, September 2026, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2532413123.
You can read the full text:
Contributors
The following have contributed to this page
