Dr Anna-Lena Stroh | Neuronal plasticity in congenitally blind humans

The study of blind individuals can help to uncover to what extent the organization of the brain depends on environmental input. Numerous studies have shown that the visual cortices of blind individuals are activated during Braille reading and linguistic processing. This raises the question of the role of blind visual cortex during these processes. Additionally, pathways that mediate the transmission of tactile and linguistic information to the blind visual cortex remain elusive. Furthermore, numerous structural changes have been observed in the visual cortices of blind individuals. One well-established finding is that blind individuals have increased cortical thickness of the occipital cortex. However, the mechanisms guiding these changes are disputed. We will use high-resolution (f)MRI to gain insights into the communication between the brain regions involved in Braille reading, as well as the mechanisms underlying structural changes in blind individuals by studying structure and function at a submillimeter scale.