MORPHOLOGICAL DISSOCIATION BETWEEN VISUAL PATHWAYS AND CORTEX - MRI OF VISUALLY-DEPRIVED PATIENTS WITH CONGENITAL PERIPHERAL BLINDNESS

MRI was used to study possible morphological changes in the visual sys tem in 12 patients suffering from congenital blindness of peripheral ( ocular) origin. While their optical pathways showed degeneration, hypo plasia or atrophy in 7 out of 12 cases, the occipital cortex appeared normal in all cases. This dissociation between afferent pathways and t he cortex is contrary to the assumption that visually deprived cortex may undergo degeneration. The finding is congruent with evidence that the occipital cortex is used for other, nonvisual functions.