Abstract
Previous studies have provided evidence for a tool-selective region in left lateral occipitotemporal cortex (LOTC). This region responds selectively to pictures of tools and to characteristic visual tool motion. The present human fMRI study tested whether visual experience is required for the development of tool-selective responses in left LOTC. Words referring to tools, animals, and nonmanipulable objects were presented auditorily to 14 congenitally blind and 16 sighted participants. Sighted participants additionally viewed pictures of these objects. In whole-brain group analyses, sighted participants showed tool-selective activity in left LOTC in both visual and auditory tasks. Importantly, virtually identical tool-selective LOTC activity was found in the congenitally blind group performing the auditory task. Furthermore, both groups showed equally strong tool-selective activity for auditory stimuli in a tool-selective LOTC region defined by the picture-viewing task in the sighted group. Detailed analyses in individual participants showed significant tool-selective LOTC activity in 13 of 14 blind participants and 14 of 16 sighted participants. The strength and anatomical location of this activity were indistinguishable across groups. Finally, both blind and sighted groups showed significant resting state functional connectivity between left LOTC and a bilateral frontoparietal network. Together, these results indicate that tool-selective activity in left LOTC develops without ever having seen a tool or its motion. This finding puts constraints on the possible role that this region could have in tool processing and, more generally, provides new insights into the principles shaping the functional organization of OTC.
Highlights
Functional neuroimaging studies have shown that viewing pictures of tools, relative to other object categories, activates a region in the left lateral occipitotemporal cortex (LOTC tool, labeled pMTG; Bracci, Cavina-Pratesi, Ietswaart, Caramazza, & Peelen, 2012; Chao, Haxby, & Martin, 1999)
Nearly identical LOTC activity was observed in congenitally blind participants performing the auditory tasks
Resting state functional connectivity analysis showed that, in both blind and sighted groups, the tool-selective left LOTC region was functionally connected to right LOTC as well as to a bilateral network consisting of inferior and superior parietal cortex and inferior frontal cortex. These results provide evidence that tool selectivity in left LOTC is largely independent of visual experience
Summary
Functional neuroimaging studies have shown that viewing pictures of tools, relative to other object categories, activates a region in the left lateral occipitotemporal cortex (LOTC tool, labeled pMTG; Bracci, Cavina-Pratesi, Ietswaart, Caramazza, & Peelen, 2012; Chao, Haxby, & Martin, 1999). LOTC tool is located just anterior to motionselective area hMT+ (Bracci et al, 2012; Valyear & Culham, 2010; Beauchamp, Lee, Haxby, & Martin, 2002) and closely overlaps a hand-selective region (Bracci et al, 2012). An open question is whether LOTC tool is a purely visual region or whether it might contribute to tool knowledge in the absence of vision. To address this question, we tested whether selectivity for tools in LOTC develops in individuals who have had no visual experience. A large number of studies have reported tool-selective fMRI activity in left LOTC without presenting visual displays
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
