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Improved auditory spatial tuning in blind humans

Author

Listed:
  • Brigitte Röder

    (Philipps-University Marburg)

  • Wolfgang Teder-Sälejärvi

    (School of Medicine, University of California)

  • Anette Sterr

    (University of Konstanz)

  • Frank Rösler

    (University of Oregon)

  • Steven A. Hillyard

    (School of Medicine, University of California)

  • Helen J. Neville

    (University of Oregon)

Abstract

Despite reports of improved auditory discrimination capabilities in blind humans1,2,3 and visually deprived animals4, there is no general agreement as to the nature or pervasiveness of such compensatory sensory enhancements5. Neuroimaging studies have pointed out differences in cerebral organization between blind and sighted humans6,7,8,9,10,11,12, but the relationship between these altered cortical activation patterns and auditory sensory acuity remains unclear. Here we compare behavioural and electrophysiological indices of spatial tuning within central and peripheral auditory space in congenitally blind and normally sighted but blindfolded adults to test the hypothesis (raised by earlier studies of the effects of auditory deprivation on visual processing13,14) that the effects of visual deprivation might be more pronounced for processing peripheral sounds. We find that blind participants displayed localization abilities that were superior to those of sighted controls, but only when attending to sounds in peripheral auditory space. Electrophysiological recordings obtained at the same time revealed sharper tuning of early spatial attention mechanisms in the blind subjects. Differences in the scalp distribution of brain electrical activity between the two groups suggest a compensatory reorganization of brain areas in the blind that may contribute to the improved spatial resolution for peripheral sound sources.

Suggested Citation

  • Brigitte Röder & Wolfgang Teder-Sälejärvi & Anette Sterr & Frank Rösler & Steven A. Hillyard & Helen J. Neville, 1999. "Improved auditory spatial tuning in blind humans," Nature, Nature, vol. 400(6740), pages 162-166, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:400:y:1999:i:6740:d:10.1038_22106
    DOI: 10.1038/22106
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    Cited by:

    1. Liam J Norman & Caitlin Dodsworth & Denise Foresteire & Lore Thaler, 2021. "Human click-based echolocation: Effects of blindness and age, and real-life implications in a 10-week training program," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(6), pages 1-34, June.
    2. Guangyin Shen & Ruiming Wang & Mengru Yang & Jiushu Xie, 2022. "Chinese Children with Congenital and Acquired Blindness Represent Concrete Concepts in Vertical Space through Tactile Perception," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-18, September.
    3. Oana Bălan & Alin Moldoveanu & Florica Moldoveanu, 2015. "Spatial Auditory Representation In The Case Of The Visually Impaired People," Romanian Economic Business Review, Romanian-American University, vol. 9(1), pages 1-11, May.
    4. Oliver Kacelnik & Fernando R Nodal & Carl H Parsons & Andrew J King, 2006. "Training-Induced Plasticity of Auditory Localization in Adult Mammals," PLOS Biology, Public Library of Science, vol. 4(4), pages 1-1, March.

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