Research Shows How Deaf Cats' Brains Re-Purpose Auditory Centers 100
An anonymous reader writes "Deaf or blind people often report enhanced abilities in their remaining senses, but up until now, no one has explained how and why that could be. Researchers at the University of Western Ontario, led by Stephen Lomber of The Centre for Brain and Mind, have discovered there is a causal link between enhanced visual abilities and reorganization of the part of the brain that usually handles auditory input in congenitally deaf cats. The findings, published online in Nature Neuroscience, provide insight into the plasticity that may occur in the brains of deaf people."
That's good news for deaf cats (Score:4, Funny)
Because getting a hearing aid to fit in a cat's ear would be rather difficult.
Ahh yes, (Score:4, Funny)
The rare intersection of cats, disabilities, abilities, and jokes:
What has 9 arms, and ROCKS?
Re:My cat isn't deaf (Score:3, Funny)
I don't think my cat uses hearing to detect an opened can of food. I did an experiment once where he was on the ground floor and at the opposite end. I carefully and quietly opened the can and *PifF* he teleported into the room, right by the bowl. I don't know how they do that.
Re:that's not nice (Score:2, Funny)
I can haz xray vizion??? (Score:2, Funny)
kthxbi
Re:Ahh yes, (Score:1, Funny)
If only they had studied Deaf Leopards... so much easier to make jokes.
Re: that's not nice (Score:3, Funny)
BTW, when I drink too much, I get terrible ping floods the next morning,
Re:My cat isn't deaf (Score:5, Funny)
Turn on a vacuum cleaner.
If you have to peel the cat out from underneath your bed ten seconds later, then it is not deaf.
Welcome (Score:4, Funny)
I said "I welcome you"
I WELCOME YOU DEAF CATS!
Re:Up Until Now? (Score:3, Funny)
Hmm, I doubt the /. er girlfriends would allow it.