Vibrotactile activation of the auditory cortices in deaf versus hearing adults

Neuroreport. 2007 May 7;18(7):645-8. doi: 10.1097/WNR.0b013e3280d943b9.

Abstract

Neuroplastic changes in auditory cortex as a result of lifelong perceptual experience were investigated. Adults with early-onset deafness and long-term hearing aid experience were hypothesized to have undergone auditory cortex plasticity due to somatosensory stimulation. Vibrations were presented on the hand of deaf and normal-hearing participants during functional MRI. Vibration stimuli were derived from speech or were a fixed frequency. Higher, more widespread activity was observed within auditory cortical regions of the deaf participants for both stimulus types. Life-long somatosensory stimulation due to hearing aid use could explain the greater activity observed with deaf participants.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Auditory Cortex / physiology*
  • Brain Mapping*
  • Deafness*
  • Female
  • Hearing Aids*
  • Humans
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Neuronal Plasticity / physiology*
  • Vibration*