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Cited by 106Visual perception and processing mechanismsTactile and Sensory InteractionsOphthalmology and Visual Impairment Studies

Development of pattern vision following early and extended blindness

Open access
Kalia, Amy, Lesmes, Luis Andres, Dorr, Michael, Gandhi, Tapan, Chatterjee, Garga, Ganesh, Suma, Bex, Peter J., Sinha, Pawan·2014·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
DOI 10.1073/pnas.1311041111PMC PMC3918801
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Abstract

Significance: Deprivation of vision during typical age-defined critical periods results in seemingly irreversible changes in neural organization and behavior in animals and humans. We describe visual development in a unique population of patients who were blind during typical critical periods before removal of bilateral cataracts. The rarity of such cases has previously limited empirical investigations of this issue. Surprisingly, we find substantial improvement after sight onset in contrast sensitivity, a basic visual function that has well-understood neural underpinnings. Our results show that the human visual system can retain plasticity beyond critical periods, even after early and extended blindness.

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Authors
Kalia, A., Lesmes, L. A., Dorr, M., Gandhi, T., Chatterjee, G., Ganesh, S., Bex, P. J., & Sinha, P.
Affiliations
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology (US)
  • Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary (US)
  • Schepens Eye Research Institute, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114;
  • Government of India (IN)
  • Dr. Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital (IN)
ORCID
Venue
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Publisher
National Academy of Sciences
Published
2014-01-21
Volume
111
Issue
5
Pages
2035-2039
ISSN
  • 0027-8424 (ISSN-L)
  • 1091-6490
DOI
10.1073/pnas.1311041111
PMC
PMC3918801
OpenAlex
W2014150017
Cited by
106
References
2
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 4
FWCI
5.39
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DSpace@MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc)
Funders
National Eye Institute (R01EY014645, R01EY021553, R01EY019281, R01EY020517)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Visual perception and processing mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Tactile and Sensory Interactions
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Ophthalmology and Visual Impairment Studies
Keywords
visual plasticity, critical period, visual development, contrast sensitivity, pattern vision, cataract surgery, visual deprivation, spatial vision
MeSH terms
Blindness, Child, Child, Preschool, Cross-Sectional Studies, Health Surveys, Humans, Infant, Longitudinal Studies, Time Factors, Vision, Ocular, Contrast Sensitivity

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