ABSTRACT
In this chapter we review recent research findings which establish that visual areas of the cerebral cortex are intimately involved in tactile perception not only in visually deprived individuals but also in those who have normal sight. The question still remains as to why such cross-modal recruitment of visual cortex occurs and whether the underlying reasons differ in the sighted and the blind. We outline attempts that have been made to address these issues and offer our own perspective on the current state of affairs. We begin with an account of cross-modal recruitment of visual cortex during tactile perception in blind persons, turn next to work with persons with normal sight, and summarize the few studies that have examined the effect of short-term visual deprivation.
