Activation of the hippocampal complex during tactile maze solving in congenitally blind subjects
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Activation of the hippocampal complex during tactile maze solving in congenitally blind subjects. / Gagnon, Léa; Schneider, Fabien C; Siebner, Hartwig R; Paulson, Olaf B; Kupers, Ron; Ptito, Maurice.
I: Neuropsychologia, Bind 50, Nr. 7, 06.2012, s. 1663-71.Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskrift › Tidsskriftartikel › Forskning › fagfællebedømt
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Activation of the hippocampal complex during tactile maze solving in congenitally blind subjects
AU - Gagnon, Léa
AU - Schneider, Fabien C
AU - Siebner, Hartwig R
AU - Paulson, Olaf B
AU - Kupers, Ron
AU - Ptito, Maurice
N1 - Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
PY - 2012/6
Y1 - 2012/6
N2 - Despite their lack of vision, congenitally blind subjects are able to build and manipulate cognitive maps for spatial navigation. It is assumed that they thereby rely more heavily on echolocation, proprioceptive signals and environmental cues such as ambient temperature and audition to compensate for their lack of vision. Little is known, however, about the neural mechanisms underlying spatial navigation in blind individuals in settings where these cues are absent. We therefore measured behavioural performance and blood oxygenation-level dependant (BOLD) responses using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in congenitally blind and blindfolded sighted participants while they navigated through a tactile multiple T-maze. Both groups learned the maze task at a similar pace. In blind participants, tactile maze navigation was associated with increased BOLD responses in the right hippocampus and parahippocampus, occipital cortex and fusiform gyrus. Blindfolded sighted controls did not show increased BOLD responses in these areas; instead they activated the caudate nucleus and thalamus. Both groups activated the precuneus during tactile maze navigation. We conclude that cross-modal plastic processes allow for the recruitment of the hippocampal complex and visual cortex in congenital blindness.
AB - Despite their lack of vision, congenitally blind subjects are able to build and manipulate cognitive maps for spatial navigation. It is assumed that they thereby rely more heavily on echolocation, proprioceptive signals and environmental cues such as ambient temperature and audition to compensate for their lack of vision. Little is known, however, about the neural mechanisms underlying spatial navigation in blind individuals in settings where these cues are absent. We therefore measured behavioural performance and blood oxygenation-level dependant (BOLD) responses using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in congenitally blind and blindfolded sighted participants while they navigated through a tactile multiple T-maze. Both groups learned the maze task at a similar pace. In blind participants, tactile maze navigation was associated with increased BOLD responses in the right hippocampus and parahippocampus, occipital cortex and fusiform gyrus. Blindfolded sighted controls did not show increased BOLD responses in these areas; instead they activated the caudate nucleus and thalamus. Both groups activated the precuneus during tactile maze navigation. We conclude that cross-modal plastic processes allow for the recruitment of the hippocampal complex and visual cortex in congenital blindness.
KW - Adult
KW - Analysis of Variance
KW - Blindness
KW - Brain Mapping
KW - Female
KW - Hippocampus
KW - Humans
KW - Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
KW - Magnetic Resonance Imaging
KW - Male
KW - Maze Learning
KW - Middle Aged
KW - Oxygen
KW - Problem Solving
KW - Time Factors
KW - Touch
KW - Young Adult
U2 - 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2012.03.022
DO - 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2012.03.022
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 22483742
VL - 50
SP - 1663
EP - 1671
JO - Neuropsychologia
JF - Neuropsychologia
SN - 0028-3932
IS - 7
ER -
ID: 48874862