Developing cortex is functionally pluripotent: Evidence from blindness.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review and theoretical framework without systematic review methodology
PubMed 38394708 · doi:10.1016/j.dcn.2024.101360
What was done
This narrative review synthesized neuroimaging and behavioral literature on visual cortex function and cross-modal plasticity in individuals born blind. The authors evaluated evidence supporting higher-cognitive repurposing of visual cortex versus metamodal accounts where perceptual domain functions are preserved across non-visual modalities.
What was found
The abstract reports no numerical data. Synthesized literature shows occipital cortices in blind individuals activate during auditory and tactile tasks and integrate into fronto-parietal cognitive networks, while ventral occipito-temporal cortex retains domain preferences. The authors propose the connectivity-constrained experience-dependent account, arguing that infant cortex is functionally pluripotent and develops different functional specializations constrained by anatomical connectivity, experience, and behavioral demands.
Why it matters
The model reconciles competing theories of cortical development, suggesting that innate anatomical wiring does not strictly predetermine functional specialization.
Limits
As a narrative review, it lacks systematic search criteria, meta-analytic pooling, and a reported sample size. Conclusions about infant pluripotency rely heavily on cross-sectional findings from older congenital blindness cohorts rather than direct longitudinal infant measurements.