How can we investigate auditory plasticity in deaf patients with cochlear implant?

Abstract

Auditory modality shares with the other sensory modalities the access to superior cortical functions. Investigation of such a complex interaction cannot be evaluated without sophisticated methodology able to depict brain activities such as neuroimaging and neurophysiological techniques. Functional magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography, and functional near infrared spectroscopy can theoretically be used. Each of these methods has advantage and disadvantages. Low resolution tomography, applied to event-related potential (P300), seems to be a good compromise between the need of time and spatial resolution required in the evaluation of deaf patients with cochlear implant.

Keywords:

• Cochlear implant
• neuroimaging
• ERPs
• LORETA
• brain plasticity

Disclosure statement

The author reports no conflict of interest.