A Voxel Based Morphometric Analysis of the Effect of Visual Experience on the Structural Organization of the Human Brain

Manisha Bhattacharya¹, Shilpi Modi¹, Namita Singh Saini¹, Rajendra Prasad Tripathi¹, Subash Khushu¹

Visual experience during the early stages of life effects the development of neural circuits in the visual cortex. In order to find the extent of structural reorganization with the extent of sightedness, voxel based morphometry was carried out in totally blind subjects, partially blind subjects and controls. Our study revealed gray-white matter volume loss in the parieto-occipital cortex, limbic lobe and the neo-cerebellum in total blinds as compared to controls. Morphological changes were less pronounced in the occipital lobe of partial blinds as compared to total blinds. Moreover, no changes were found in their cerebellum and the parietal cortex.