Abstract
It is widely believed that loss of one sense leads to enhancement of the remaining senses – for example, deaf see better and blind hear better. The reality, uncovered by 30 years of research, is more complex, and this complexity provides a fuller picture of the brain’s adaptability in the face of atypical sensory experiences. In this symposium, neuroscientists and vision scientists will discuss how sensory, linguistic, and social experiences during early development have lasting effects on perceptual abilities and visuospatial cognition. Presenters offer new findings that provide surprising insights into the neural and behavioral organization of the human visual system.