Objetivo One of the most striking demonstrations of experience-dependent neuroplasticity comes from studies of deaf individuals in whom the temporal ‘auditory’ cortex changes its functional tuning to support visual or tactile functions. Age-of-onset and duration of deafness is thought to affect the extent of cross-modal plasticity (CP) in auditory cortex, with earlier onset and longer durations being associated with increased CP. Importantly, previous studies have suggested that the presence of such CP may negatively influence clinical outcomes of cochlear implantation. This has notably resulted in clinicians discouraging parents from teaching sign-language to deaf children for fear that the use of a visual language will promote CP and interfere with the development of auditory abilities, including spoken language, after cochlear implantation. However, recent models have proposed that CP may exert pressure on regions to maintain their cognitive function irrespective of the type of sensory input, and that such maintenance of functional units (e.g. for language) might be positively harnessed in cases of sensory restoration. This is supported by recent research that suggests maintained functional modularity of the visual cortex may be beneficial to the outcome of sight restoration in blind subjects – a finding that will have important implications on the development of guidelines for sight restoration when a technique becomes available. Ironically, the situation is reversed in the deaf, in which guidelines for a widely used technique is based upon limited understanding of the potential benefits of CP and its influence on functional modularity. It is therefore crucial to obtain a more complete picture as to how age-of-onset and duration may affect CP and functional modularity. This project aims to bridge this gap, and specifically seeks to test whether earlier and longer durations of deafness positively correlate with CP and functional modularity in auditory cortex of the deaf. Ámbito científico natural sciencesbiological sciencesneurobiologycognitive neurosciencehumanitieslanguages and literaturelinguisticssign languagemedical and health sciencesclinical medicinesurgery Programa(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility Tema(s) MSCA-IF-2014-EF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF-EF) Convocatoria de propuestas H2020-MSCA-IF-2014 Consulte otros proyectos de esta convocatoria Régimen de financiación MSCA-IF-EF-RI - RI – Reintegration panel Coordinador THE UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM Aportación neta de la UEn € 142 719,45 Dirección University Park NG7 2RD Nottingham Reino Unido Ver en el mapa Región East Midlands (England) Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Nottingham Tipo de actividad Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Enlaces Contactar con la organización Opens in new window Sitio web Opens in new window Participación en los programas de I+D de la UE Opens in new window Red de colaboración de HORIZON Opens in new window Coste total € 142 719,47 Participantes (1) Ordenar alfabéticamente Ordenar por aportación neta de la UE Ampliar todo Contraer todo UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI TRENTO La participación finalizó Italia Aportación neta de la UEn € 37 557,75 Dirección VIA CALEPINA 14 38122 Trento Ver en el mapa Región Nord-Est Provincia Autonoma di Trento Trento Tipo de actividad Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Enlaces Contactar con la organización Opens in new window Sitio web Opens in new window Participación en los programas de I+D de la UE Opens in new window Red de colaboración de HORIZON Opens in new window Coste total € 37 557,75