Strange

Scientists unmask brain's hidden potential

by Erik Larson | August 27, 2008 at 11:18 am

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We are more capable and powerful than we realize. This study has revealed that blindfolded subjects quickly develop other senses to compensate, such as improved ability to learn and read Braille. Brainscans showed that during the 5 days they were blindfolded 24/7, touch activated the visual cortex; this quickly returned to normal after the 5 days. This reminds me of a study I read about years ago, in which subjects wore special glasses that made the world upside down; overnight, their brains adapted to make the world look right-side up, even while wearing the glasses. The way our eyes work, the images reflected in our brain are upside down; our brain makes it appear right-side up.

"The brain's ability to reorganize itself is much greater than previously believed," explains senior author Alvaro Pascual-Leone, MD, PhD, Director of the Berenson-Allen Center and Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School (HMS). "In our studies [in which a group of sighted study subjects were blindfolded for five days], we have shown that even in an adult, the normally developed visual system quickly becomes engaged to process touch in response to complete loss of sight. The speed and dynamic nature of the changes we observed suggest that rather than establishing new nerve connections – which would take a long time – the visual cortex is unveiling abilities that are normally concealed when sight is intact."