Primary and higher-order thalamic nuclei make distinct contributions to cortical reorganization in congenital sensory loss

The researchers used neuroimaging to compare thalamic structure between individuals with congenital blindness and sighted controls. They found that structural differences were focal to the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN), the primary visual thalamic relay, rather than uniformly affecting the entire thalamus. This suggests that primary sensory nuclei are more plastic in response to early sensory loss, while higher-order nuclei may retain more stable connections. The study adds to evidence that cortical reorganization in blindness is driven by specific subcortical changes, which could inform future approaches to sensory restoration or brain stimulation therapies. As a preprint, the findings have not yet undergone peer review.