How the adult visual brain rewires after vision or hearing loss
Global Synpatic Plasticity Mechanisms in Visual Cortex
This research looks at how the adult visual part of the brain changes its connections after losing sight or hearing to help guide better treatments for people with sensory loss.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11292988 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
As someone affected by sensory loss, this project studies how the primary visual cortex (V1) adapts when vision or hearing is lost. Researchers use high-resolution imaging and neurophysiology in animal models to map which long-range inputs and synapses strengthen in different cortical layers. They compare changes after adult-onset visual deprivation versus auditory deprivation to identify distinct circuit-level plasticity. The work focuses on layer 2/3 lateral inputs and layer 4 thalamocortical pathways to reveal targets that could inform rehabilitation strategies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with recent or longstanding vision loss or adults who have experienced hearing loss are the patient groups most directly related to this research and to future human studies based on it.
Not a fit: People without sensory loss, young children, or patients whose problems are limited to the eye without cortical involvement are less likely to receive direct benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could point to new targets for therapies or rehabilitation approaches to improve function after vision or hearing loss.
How similar studies have performed: Prior animal studies have shown cortical reorganization after sensory loss, but the specific layer-by-layer synaptic mechanisms this project examines are relatively novel and still being defined.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- Johns Hopkins University — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lee, Hey-Kyoung — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Lee, Hey-Kyoung
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.