Deaf people 'can rewire brains'

People deaf from birth may be able to reassign the area of their brain used for hearing to boost their sight, suggests a study.

Improved peripheral vision, often reported by deaf people, could be generated by the brain area which would normally deal with peripheral hearing.

The Canadian research, published in the journal Nature Neuroscience, tested the theory using congenitally deaf cats.

The researcher involved said the brain did not let unused space "go to waste".

Both deaf and blind people frequently say their other senses are sharper by way of compensation.

However, it has not been obvious how the brain might achieve this.

via BBC News - Deaf people 'can rewire brains'.