Sensory substitution: an approach to the experimental study of perception

BERMEJO, FERNANDO; ARIAS, CLAUDIA

Estudion en Psicología: Studies in Psychology

Fundación Infancia y Aprendizaje

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2015 p. 1 - 26

0210-9395

Sensory substitution refers to the phenomenon where object and environment information normally acquired through one sense can be obtained by another sense. For example, visual input being provided by hearing or touching. Sensory substitution devices are technological designs that transform the characteristics of one sensory modality into stimuli of another sensory modality. These devices were developed with two purposes: (1) to assist people with sensory disabilities in daily tasks; and (2) to study the involved mechanisms of brain plasticity. This article reviews studies in which sensory substitution phenomenon is employed as a methodological strategy to study visual perception. Furthermore, its use is discussed as an experimental platform to contrast new perceptual theories and underlying neurophysiological mechanisms that are currently under review.