Visuo-spatial imagery in dreams of congenitally and early blind: a systematic review

Katarina Ilic; Rita Bertani; Neda Lapteva; Panagis Drakatos; Alessio Delogu; Kausar Raheel; Matthew Soteriou; Carlotta Mutti; Joerg Steier; David W. Carmichael; Peter J. Goadsby; Adam Ockelford; Ivana Rosenzweig

Visuo-spatial imagery in dreams of congenitally and early blind: a systematic review

Katarina Ilic, Rita Bertani, Neda Lapteva, Panagis Drakatos, Alessio Delogu, Kausar Raheel, Matthew Soteriou, Carlotta Mutti, Joerg Steier, David W. Carmichael, Peter J. Goadsby, Adam Ockelford, Ivana Rosenzweig

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

Abstract

Background: The presence of visual imagery in dreams of congenitally blind people has long been a matter of substantial controversy. We set to systematically review body of published work on the presence and nature of oneiric visuo-spatial impressions in congenitally and early blind subjects across different areas of research, from experimental psychology, functional neuroimaging, sensory substitution, and sleep research. Methods: Relevant studies were identified using the following databases: EMBASE, MEDLINE and PsychINFO. Results: Studies using diverse imaging techniques and sensory substitution devices broadly suggest that the “blind” occipital cortex may be able to integrate non-visual sensory inputs, and thus possibly also generate visuo-spatial impressions. Visual impressions have also been reported by blind subjects who had near-death or out-of-body experiences. Conclusion: Deciphering the mechanistic nature of these visual impression could open new possibility in utilization of neuroplasticity and its potential role for treatment of neurodisability.

Original language	English
Journal	Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience
Volume	17
Early online date	30 Jun 2023
Publication status	E-pub ahead of print - 30 Jun 2023

Keywords

congenitally blind
cross-modal plasticity
dreams
metamodal brain
visuo-spatial imagery

Access to Document

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnint.2023.1204129/full

Cite this

Ilic, K., Bertani, R., Lapteva, N., Drakatos, P., Delogu, A., Raheel, K., Soteriou, M., Mutti, C., Steier, J., Carmichael, D. W., Goadsby, P. J., Ockelford, A., & Rosenzweig, I. (2023). Visuo-spatial imagery in dreams of congenitally and early blind: a systematic review. Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience, 17. Advance online publication. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnint.2023.1204129/full

@article{8f3e99c5ae32441f829c0a145de3ff74,

title = "Visuo-spatial imagery in dreams of congenitally and early blind: a systematic review",

abstract = "Background: The presence of visual imagery in dreams of congenitally blind people has long been a matter of substantial controversy. We set to systematically review body of published work on the presence and nature of oneiric visuo-spatial impressions in congenitally and early blind subjects across different areas of research, from experimental psychology, functional neuroimaging, sensory substitution, and sleep research. Methods: Relevant studies were identified using the following databases: EMBASE, MEDLINE and PsychINFO. Results: Studies using diverse imaging techniques and sensory substitution devices broadly suggest that the “blind” occipital cortex may be able to integrate non-visual sensory inputs, and thus possibly also generate visuo-spatial impressions. Visual impressions have also been reported by blind subjects who had near-death or out-of-body experiences. Conclusion: Deciphering the mechanistic nature of these visual impression could open new possibility in utilization of neuroplasticity and its potential role for treatment of neurodisability.",

keywords = "congenitally blind, cross-modal plasticity, dreams, metamodal brain, visuo-spatial imagery",

author = "Katarina Ilic and Rita Bertani and Neda Lapteva and Panagis Drakatos and Alessio Delogu and Kausar Raheel and Matthew Soteriou and Carlotta Mutti and Joerg Steier and Carmichael, {David W.} and Goadsby, {Peter J.} and Adam Ockelford and Ivana Rosenzweig",

year = "2023",

month = jun,

day = "30",

language = "English",

volume = "17",

journal = "Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience",

issn = "1662-5145",

publisher = "Frontiers Media S.A.",

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Ilic, K, Bertani, R, Lapteva, N, Drakatos, P, Delogu, A, Raheel, K, Soteriou, M, Mutti, C, Steier, J, Carmichael, DW, Goadsby, PJ, Ockelford, A & Rosenzweig, I 2023, 'Visuo-spatial imagery in dreams of congenitally and early blind: a systematic review', Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience, vol. 17. <https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnint.2023.1204129/full>

TY - JOUR

T1 - Visuo-spatial imagery in dreams of congenitally and early blind: a systematic review

AU - Ilic, Katarina

AU - Bertani, Rita

AU - Lapteva, Neda

AU - Drakatos, Panagis

AU - Delogu, Alessio

AU - Raheel, Kausar

AU - Soteriou, Matthew

AU - Mutti, Carlotta

AU - Steier, Joerg

AU - Carmichael, David W.

AU - Goadsby, Peter J.

AU - Ockelford, Adam

AU - Rosenzweig, Ivana

PY - 2023/6/30

Y1 - 2023/6/30

N2 - Background: The presence of visual imagery in dreams of congenitally blind people has long been a matter of substantial controversy. We set to systematically review body of published work on the presence and nature of oneiric visuo-spatial impressions in congenitally and early blind subjects across different areas of research, from experimental psychology, functional neuroimaging, sensory substitution, and sleep research. Methods: Relevant studies were identified using the following databases: EMBASE, MEDLINE and PsychINFO. Results: Studies using diverse imaging techniques and sensory substitution devices broadly suggest that the “blind” occipital cortex may be able to integrate non-visual sensory inputs, and thus possibly also generate visuo-spatial impressions. Visual impressions have also been reported by blind subjects who had near-death or out-of-body experiences. Conclusion: Deciphering the mechanistic nature of these visual impression could open new possibility in utilization of neuroplasticity and its potential role for treatment of neurodisability.

AB - Background: The presence of visual imagery in dreams of congenitally blind people has long been a matter of substantial controversy. We set to systematically review body of published work on the presence and nature of oneiric visuo-spatial impressions in congenitally and early blind subjects across different areas of research, from experimental psychology, functional neuroimaging, sensory substitution, and sleep research. Methods: Relevant studies were identified using the following databases: EMBASE, MEDLINE and PsychINFO. Results: Studies using diverse imaging techniques and sensory substitution devices broadly suggest that the “blind” occipital cortex may be able to integrate non-visual sensory inputs, and thus possibly also generate visuo-spatial impressions. Visual impressions have also been reported by blind subjects who had near-death or out-of-body experiences. Conclusion: Deciphering the mechanistic nature of these visual impression could open new possibility in utilization of neuroplasticity and its potential role for treatment of neurodisability.

KW - congenitally blind

KW - cross-modal plasticity

KW - dreams

KW - metamodal brain

KW - visuo-spatial imagery

M3 - Review article

SN - 1662-5145

VL - 17

JO - Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience

JF - Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience

ER -