Brain "rewires" itself to enhance other senses in blind people

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May 10, 2017

Blindness Neuroscience

Basic Research

Grantee

In a recent report published in PLOS ONE, Mass. Eye and Ear researchers found that the brain makes new connections in those with early blindness (i.e. those born with or who have acquired profound blindness before the age of 3).

These connections, which are not present in normally-sighted individuals, cause an enhancement in non-visual abilities such as heightened sense of hearing, smell and touch — as well as cognitive functions such as memory and language.