Neural correlates of visual-to-auditory sensory substitution in proficient blind users.
Multiple Paper Presentation

Amir Amedi
Harvard Center for Non-Invasive Magnetic Brain Stimulation,

Peter Meijer
Philips Research, Eindhoven, Netherlands

     Abstract ID Number: 6

Abstract
Sensory substitution devices (SSD) can play a role in rehabilitation of the blind with restoration of visual functions by: (1) assisting in daily-life activities such as recognizing visual objects (2) ‘guiding’ visual cortex to interpret information arriving from visual prostheses. We report here behavioral and neuroimaging results in blind expert users of ‘The vOICe’ visual-to-auditory SSD, which transforms live camera views into “soundscapes” by encoding key image aspects. Object recognition versus location processing of visual shapes encoded by ‘The vOICe’ was compared to tactile object identification. A right-hemisphere lateralized network appears to participate in processing soundscapes. Interestingly, differential activation of ventral V1/V2 is associated with shape versus location tasks. These results suggest that similar to visual processing, soundscapes activate the ventral visual stream to process shape information, while posterior parietal cortex contributes to location processing. We will discuss these results within the context of visual rehabilitation and restoration efforts.

To be Presented at the Following Symposium:
Can the Blind See?
Other papers in this Symposium:

• Paul Bach-y-Rita
  Departments of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation Medicine and B
  Kathi Kamm
  Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
  Tactile Sensory Substitution for Blindness
• Claude Veraart
  Neural Rehabilitation Engineering Laboratory, Universite de
  Anne De Volder
  Neural Rehabilitation Engineering Laboratory, Universite de Louvain
  Jean Delbeke
  Neural Rehabilitation Engineering Laboratory, Universite de Louvain
  Vision rehabilitation in case of blindness
• Lotfi Merabet
  Neurology and Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School
  Joseph Rizzo
  Neuro ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
  Visual Neuroprosthesis Development: The Implications of Neuroplasticity