AUTHOR=Bock Andrew S. , Fine Ione 

TITLE=Anatomical and functional plasticity in early blind individuals and the mixture of experts architecture

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Human Neuroscience

VOLUME=8

YEAR=2014

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/human-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2014.00971

DOI=10.3389/fnhum.2014.00971

ISSN=1662-5161

ABSTRACT=<p>As described elsewhere in this special issue, recent advances in neuroimaging over the last decade have led to a rapid expansion in our knowledge of anatomical and functional correlations within the normal and abnormal human brain. Here, we review how early blindness has been used as a model system for examining the role of visual experience in the development of anatomical connections and functional responses. We discuss how lack of power in group comparisons may provide a potential explanation for why extensive anatomical changes in cortico-cortical connectivity are not observed. Finally we suggest a framework—cortical specialization via hierarchical mixtures of experts—which offers some promise in reconciling a wide range of functional and anatomical data.</p>