Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: When deprived of a sensory modality, the brain often compensates with supranormal performance in other intact systems. While this compensatory plasticity is typically attributed to early sensory loss, plasticity following adult-onset sensory loss remains poorly understood despite its clinical relevance. In many patients, adult-onset hearing loss precedes treatment by cochlear implantation, yet little is known about the neural changes occurring before this intervention. The present study examines this transitional stage using a well-established adult cat model to examine visual plasticity after hearing loss in adulthood. We employed motion-onset visually evoked potentials (VEPs), a technique validated in our previous studies, to examine compensatory neural changes over time. VEPs are widely used in human neurophysiology and offer a translational bridge between basic science and clinical research. Over a 400-day period post adult-onset deafness, we observed gradual amplification in VEP signal power and P1 amplitude, alongside shortened peak latency. Our findings provide evidence that adult-onset deafness can induce compensatory visual plasticity and highlights VEPs as a promising biomarker for tracking such changes. This exploratory study establishes a platform for future research examining post-deafness intervention, such as cochlear implantation.
Source: Scientific Reports
Authors: Siyu Zhu, Xiaohan Bao, Stephen G. Lomber
Institutions: McGill University, The University of Texas at Arlington
Language: English
Subfield: Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,690
Award: G4508297103
OpenAlex ID: W7129535880