Temporal Lobe Perfusion in the Deaf: MR Measurement with Pulsed Arterial Spin Labeling (FAIR)

In the resting state, the deaf demonstrate a relatively normal perfusion in the region of cortex usually associated with auditory function. Although the presumed underlying electrical activity may represent some degree of residual auditory function, it is likely that the normal level of perfusion reflects cortical reorganization and the early migration of nonauditory processing into this area.