IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/nat/nature/v391y1998i6663d10.1038_34322.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Changed perceptions in Braille readers

Author

Listed:
  • Annette Sterr

    (University of Konstanz)

  • Matthias M. Müller

    (University of Konstanz)

  • Thomas Elbert

    (University of Konstanz)

  • Brigitte Rockstroh

    (University of Konstanz)

  • Christo Pantev

    (Institute of Experimental Audiology, University of Münster)

  • Edward Taub

    (University of Alabama at Birmingham)

Abstract

The mature mammalian nervous system has a striking capacity for plastic remodelling in response to environmental changes, but little is known about the perceptual and behavioural relevance of this phenomenon. Using magnetic source imaging we show that the cortical somatosensory representation of the fingers is topographically disordered in blind Braille readers who use three fingers on both hands to read. In addition, they frequently misperceive which of these fingers is being touched. This correlation is suggestive of a functional role for cortical reorganization in the perceptual experience of these individuals.

Suggested Citation

  • Annette Sterr & Matthias M. Müller & Thomas Elbert & Brigitte Rockstroh & Christo Pantev & Edward Taub, 1998. "Changed perceptions in Braille readers," Nature, Nature, vol. 391(6663), pages 134-135, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:391:y:1998:i:6663:d:10.1038_34322
    DOI: 10.1038/34322
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/34322
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1038/34322?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:391:y:1998:i:6663:d:10.1038_34322. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.nature.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.