Visuo-spatial imagery in dreams of congenitally and early blind: a systematic review

Abstract

Background: The presence of visual imagery in dreams of congenitally blind people has long been a matter of substantial controversy. We set to systematically review body of published work on the presence and nature of oneiric visuo-spatial impressions in congenitally and early blind subjects across different areas of research, from experimental psychology, functional neuroimaging, sensory substitution, and sleep research.

Methods: Relevant studies were identified using the following databases: EMBASE, MEDLINE and PsychINFO.

Results: Studies using diverse imaging techniques and sensory substitution devices broadly suggest that the "blind" occipital cortex may be able to integrate non-visual sensory inputs, and thus possibly also generate visuo-spatial impressions. Visual impressions have also been reported by blind subjects who had near-death or out-of-body experiences.

Conclusion: Deciphering the mechanistic nature of these visual impression could open new possibility in utilization of neuroplasticity and its potential role for treatment of neurodisability.

Keywords: congenitally blind; cross-modal plasticity; dreams; metamodal brain; visuo-spatial imagery.

FIGURE 1

PRISMA 2020 flow diagram of study selection process (Liberati et al., 2009).

FIGURE 2

Representative dreams from the group of congenitally blind subjects, with examples of reported visuo-spatial imagery, adapted from with permission from Kang et al. (2023) (Illustrations by Davor Aslanovski).