Sensory experience modulates the reorganization of auditory regions for executive processing

Manini, Barbara, Vinogradova, Valeria, Woll, Bencie, Cameron, Donnie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9841-6909, Eimer, Martin and Cardin, Velia (2022) Sensory experience modulates the reorganization of auditory regions for executive processing. Brain, 145 (10). pp. 3698-3710. ISSN 0006-8950

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Abstract

Crossmodal plasticity refers to the reorganization of sensory cortices in the absence of their typical main sensory input. Understanding this phenomenon provides insights into brain function and its potential for change and enhancement. Using functional MRI, we investigated how early deafness influences crossmodal plasticity and the organization of executive functions in the adult human brain. Deaf (n = 25; age: mean = 41.68, range = 19–66, SD = 14.38; 16 female, 9 male) and hearing (n = 20; age: mean = 37.50, range = 18–66, SD = 16.85; 15 female, 5 male) participants performed four visual tasks tapping into different components of executive processing: task switching, working memory, planning and inhibition. Our results show that deaf individuals specifically recruit ‘auditory’ regions during task switching. Neural activity in superior temporal regions, most significantly in the right hemisphere, are good predictors of behavioural performance during task switching in the group of deaf individuals, highlighting the functional relevance of the observed cortical reorganization. Our results show executive processing in typically sensory regions, suggesting that the development and ultimate role of brain regions are influenced by perceptual environmental experience.

Item Type: Article
Additional Information: Funding Information: This work was funded by a grant from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC; BB/P019994/1). V.V. is funded by a scholarship from the University of East Anglia.
Uncontrolled Keywords: auditory cortex,deafness,executive function,medicine(all) ,/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/2700
Faculty \ School: Faculty of Social Sciences > School of Psychology
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Allied Health Professions (former - to 2013)
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Norwich Medical School
UEA Research Groups: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Cardiovascular and Metabolic Health
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Population Health
Related URLs:
Depositing User: LivePure Connector
Date Deposited: 15 Dec 2022 03:56
Last Modified: 09 Mar 2024 01:46
URI: https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/90100
DOI: 10.1093/brain/awac205

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