cross-modal perception

Cross-modal perception refers to how different senses are integrated and how the brain can adapt when one sense is impaired. In infants, this process, known as intermodal perception, begins early as their senses mature and they start coordinating information from vision, hearing, smell, and touch.1

Cross-modal plasticity is the brain's remarkable ability to reorganize itself to compensate for sensory deficits. For example, individuals who are deaf may develop heightened peripheral vision, while the blind might experience increased sensitivity to sound and touch. In these cases, brain regions typically associated with the lost sense become active in processing information from other senses. The extent of this reorganization is influenced by factors like age and sensory experience, and it has significant implications for rehabilitation and treatment outcomes.2