Award
National Eye Institute 5R01EY033340-05
Neural basis of Braille literacy in blind adults and children
Recipient
Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
Award Amount
$680,455.00
Ceiling
$680,455.00
Awarded
April 06, 2026
Identifier
5R01EY033340-05
Research project funded by the National Eye Institute to study the neural mechanisms of Braille literacy in blind adults and children using advanced imaging techniques, aiming to understand brain plasticity and improve Braille literacy strategies.
Description
The project examines the neural basis of Braille reading in proficient congenitally blind adults, late blind readers, and blind children using fMRI and high-density diffusion imaging (dMRI). It aims to understand brain plasticity and the neural mechanisms underlying Braille literacy, testing hypotheses about modality-invariant shape recognition and connectivity-based localization of tactile word form areas.