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Adaptive benefit of cross-modal plasticity following cochlear implantation in deaf adults

Anderson, Carly A.; Wiggins, Ian M.; Kitterick, P�draig T.; Hartley, Douglas E. H.

Authors

Carly A. Anderson

P�draig T. Kitterick



Abstract

© 2017, National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved. It has been suggested that visual language is maladaptive for hearing restoration with a cochlear implant (CI) due to cross-modal recruitment of auditory brain regions. Rehabilitative guidelines therefore discourage the use of visual language. However, neuroscientific understanding of cross-modal plasticity following cochlear implantation has been restricted due to incompatibility between established neuroimaging techniques and the surgically implanted electronic and magnetic components of the CI. As a solution to this problem, here we used functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), a noninvasive optical neuroimaging method that is fully compatible with a CI and safe for repeated testing. The aim of this study was to examine cross-modal activation of auditory brain regions by visual speech from before to after implantation and its relation to CI success. Using fNIRS, we examined activation of superior temporal cortex to visual speech in the same profoundly deaf adults both before and 6 mo after implantation. Patients’ ability to understand auditory speech with their CI was also measured following 6 mo of CI use. Contrary to existing theory, the results demonstrate that increased cross-modal activation of auditory brain regions by visual speech from before to after implantation is associated with better speech understanding with a CI. Furthermore, activation of auditory cortex by visual and auditory speech developed in synchrony after implantation. Together these findings suggest that cross-modal plasticity by visual speech does not exert previously assumed maladaptive effects on CI success, but instead provides adaptive benefits to the restoration of hearing after implantation through an audiovisual mechanism.

Citation

Anderson, C. A., Wiggins, I. M., Kitterick, P. T., & Hartley, D. E. H. (2017). Adaptive benefit of cross-modal plasticity following cochlear implantation in deaf adults. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 114(38), 10256-10261. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1704785114

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Jul 13, 2017
Online Publication Date Aug 14, 2017
Publication Date Sep 19, 2017
Deposit Date Sep 4, 2017
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Print ISSN 0027-8424
Electronic ISSN 1091-6490
Publisher National Academy of Sciences
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 114
Issue 38
Pages 10256-10261
DOI https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1704785114
Keywords Cochlear implantation; Cross-modal plasticity; Functional near-infrared spectroscopy; Superior temporal cortex; Visual speech; deafness; speech perception; longitudinal
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/877557
Publisher URL http://www.pnas.org/content/114/38/10256

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