We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us
LGC Clinical Diagnostics

Download Mobile App




Brain Process Underlying Recognition of Hand Gestures Found to Develop Even When Blind

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 16 Sep 2014
Print article
Researchers have discovered by using neuroimaging that activated brain regions of congenitally blind individuals and activated brain regions of sighted individuals use common brain regions when recognizing human hand gestures. They indicated that a region of the neural network that recognizes others’ hand gestures is formed in the same way, even without visual information.

The investigators set out to find out if a distinctive mechanism occurs in the brain of congenitally blind individuals when understanding and learning others’ gestures and whether it is the same process that occurs in sighted individuals. Japanese researchers figured out that activated brain regions of congenitally blind individuals and activated brain regions of sighted individuals share common regions when recognizing human hand gestures. They indicated that a region of the neural network that recognizes others’ hand gestures is formed in the same way even without visual information.

The findings were published July 23, 2014, in the Journal of Neuroscience. Brain processes perceive human bodies from inanimate objects and shows a particular response. A part of a region of the visual cortex region of the brain that processes visual information supports this mechanism. Because visual data are mostly used in perception, this is understandable, however, for perception using haptic information and also for the recognition of one’s own gestures, it has been recently determined that the same brain region is triggered. The investigators believe that there is a mechanism that is formed regardless of the sensory modalities and recognizes human bodies.

Blind and sighted individuals participated in the study of the research group of Assist. Prof. Ryo Kitada of the National Institute for Physiological Sciences, National Institutes of Natural Sciences (Okazaki, Aichi, Japan). With their eyes closed, they were told to touch toy cars, plastic casts of hands, and teapots, and identify the shape. Sighted individuals and blind individuals were found to both make an identification with the same accuracy.

By measuring the activated brain region using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scanning, for plastic casts of hands and not for teapots or toy cars, the researchers were able to locate a common activated brain region, irrespective of visual experience. However, it also revealed a region showing signs of activity that is dependent on the duration of the visual experience, and that this region acts as a supplement when recognizing hand gestures.

As Assist. Prof. Ryo Kitada noted, “Many individuals are active in many parts of the society even with the loss of their sight as a child. Developmental psychology has been advancing its doctrine based on sighted individuals. I wish this finding will help us grasp how blind individuals understand and learn about others and be seen as an important step in supporting the development of social skills for blind individuals.”

Related Links:

Japanese National Institute for Physiological Sciences


New
Gold Member
Pneumocystis Jirovecii Detection Kit
Pneumocystis Jirovecii Real Time RT-PCR Kit
Automated Blood Typing System
IH-500 NEXT
New
Vitamin B12 Test
CHORUS CLIA VIT B12
New
Vibrio Cholerae O1/O139 Rapid Test
StrongStep Vibrio Cholerae O1/O139 Antigen Combo Rapid Test

Print article

Channels

Clinical Chemistry

view channel
Image: The new saliva-based test for heart failure measures two biomarkers in about 15 minutes (Photo courtesy of Trey Pittman)

POC Saliva Testing Device Predicts Heart Failure in 15 Minutes

Heart failure is a serious condition where the heart muscle is unable to pump sufficient oxygen-rich blood throughout the body. It ranks as a major cause of death globally and is particularly fatal for... Read more

Hematology

view channel
Image: The smartphone technology measures blood hemoglobin levels from a digital photo of the inner eyelid (Photo courtesy of Purdue University)

First-Of-Its-Kind Smartphone Technology Noninvasively Measures Blood Hemoglobin Levels at POC

Blood hemoglobin tests are among the most frequently conducted blood tests, as hemoglobin levels can provide vital insights into various health conditions. However, traditional tests are often underutilized... Read more

Immunology

view channel
Image: Under a microscope, DNA repair is visible as bright green spots (“foci”) in the blue-stained cell DNA. Orange highlights actively growing cancer cells (Photo courtesy of WEHI)

Simple Blood Test Could Detect Drug Resistance in Ovarian Cancer Patients

Every year, hundreds of thousands of women across the world are diagnosed with ovarian and breast cancer. PARP inhibitors (PARPi) therapy has been a major advancement in treating these cancers, particularly... Read more

Microbiology

view channel
Image: HNL Dimer can be a novel and potentially useful clinical tool in antibiotic stewardship in sepsis (Photo courtesy of Shutterstock)

Unique Blood Biomarker Shown to Effectively Monitor Sepsis Treatment

Sepsis remains a growing problem across the world, linked to high rates of mortality and morbidity. Timely and accurate diagnosis, along with effective supportive therapy, is essential in reducing sepsis-related... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2024 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.