Lotfi B. Merabet,
OD, PhD, MPH
Massachusetts Eye and Ear
Associate Scientist
Harvard Medical School
Associate Professor of Ophthalmology
Co-Director, Mobility Enhancement and Vision Rehabilitation Center of Excellence
About My Research
Center/Research Area Affiliations
Biography
Dr. Merabet is a clinician scientist and a member of the Vision Rehabilitation Service at Mass Eye and Ear. His research focuses on understanding how the brain adapts to the loss of sight. In the past, he has investigated the role of compensatory visual pathways using electrophysiological recording techniques in animal models. Currently, he uses advanced neuroimaging and noninvasive brain stimulation techniques to investigate the neuroplasticity of the visual system and mechanisms associated with sensory processing in individuals living with blindness and visual impairment. His recent work has concentrated on developing virtual environments and video game-based learning strategies for improving navigation and other cognitive skills in blind adolescents.
Education
PhD, Neuroscience, University of Montreal, Canada (1999)
OD, New England College of Optometry (2001)
MSc, Clinical Investigation, Harvard-MIT Health Sciences Technology (2003)
MPH, Clinical Effectiveness, Harvard School of Public Health (2011)
Postgraduate Training
Postdoctoral Fellowship, Noninvasive Brain Stimulation, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (2001-2003)
Postdoctoral Fellowship, Neuroimaging, Boston University and Mass General Hospital, Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging (2003-2004)
Honors
2018: A. Clifford Barger Excellence in Mentoring Award, Harvard Medical School
2018: Distinguished Service Award, Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind, North Eastern Chapter
2016: Low Vision Research Award, Research to Prevent Blindness
2015: Award of Distinguished Speaker, Principles and Practice of Clinical Research, Harvard Medical School2014: Editor's Pick, TEDx Lecture Series
2011: Nominee, Young Mentor Award, Harvard Medical School
2002: Fellow, American Academy of Optometry
2001: Feinbloom Award for Excellence in Low Vision, New England College of Optometry
2001: Postdoctoral Fellowship Award, Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
Publications powered by Harvard Catalyst Profiles
- Direct reciprocity and reputation shape trust decisions similarly in blind and sighted individuals. Conscious Cogn. 2024 Mar 28; 120:103683.
- Visual search patterns during exploration of naturalistic scenes are driven by saliency cues in individuals with cerebral visual impairment. Sci Rep. 2024 02 06; 14(1):3074.
- Aberrant White Matter Development in Cerebral Visual Impairment: A Proposed Mechanism for Visual Dysfunction Following Early Brain Injury. J Integr Neurosci. 2024 Jan 10; 23(1):1.
- Academic skills in children with cerebral palsy and specific learning disorders. Dev Med Child Neurol. 2023 Nov 21.
- Altered neural oscillations underlying visuospatial processing in cerebral visual impairment. Brain Commun. 2023; 5(5):fcad232.
- Object identification in cerebral visual impairment characterized by gaze behavior and image saliency analysis. Brain Dev. 2023 Sep; 45(8):432-444.
- Motion and form coherence processing in individuals with cerebral visual impairment. Dev Med Child Neurol. 2023 10; 65(10):1379-1386.
- Development and 5-year Evaluation of Diagnosis-Specific Protocols for Visual Neuro-Rehabilitation in a Multicenter Inpatient Rehabilitation Network. Arch Rehabil Res Clin Transl. 2023 Mar; 5(1):100246.
- Visual intervention in early onset visual impairment: A review. Eur J Neurosci. 2023 06; 57(12):1998-2016.
- Neurovisual profile in children affected by Angelman syndrome. Brain Dev. 2022 Nov 04.
- Assessing visuospatial processing in cerebral visual impairment using a novel and naturalistic static visual search task. Res Dev Disabil. 2022 Dec; 131:104364.
- Assessing Higher-Order Visual Processing in Cerebral Visual Impairment Using Naturalistic Virtual-Reality-Based Visual Search Tasks. Children (Basel). 2022 Jul 26; 9(8).
- Neural correlates associated with impaired global motion perception in cerebral visual impairment (CVI). Neuroimage Clin. 2021; 32:102821.
- Visual search performance in cerebral visual impairment is associated with altered alpha band oscillations. Neuropsychologia. 2021 10 15; 161:108011.
- Visual perception supported by verbal mediation in an individual with cerebral visual impairment (CVI). Neuropsychologia. 2021 09 17; 160:107982.
- Early visual training and environmental adaptation for infants with visual impairment. Dev Med Child Neurol. 2021 10; 63(10):1180-1193.
- Assessing visual search performance using a novel dynamic naturalistic scene. J Vis. 2021 01 04; 21(1):5.
- Inpatient Virtual Vision Clinic Improves Access to Vision Rehabilitation Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Arch Rehabil Res Clin Transl. 2021 Mar; 3(1):100100.
- The Effect of Blindness on Spatial Asymmetries. Brain Sci. 2020 Sep 23; 10(10).
- Autistic-Like Features in Visually Impaired Children: A Review of Literature and Directions for Future Research. Brain Sci. 2020 Aug 01; 10(8).
- Cortical plasticity in phantom limb pain: A fMRI study on the neural correlates of behavioral clinical manifestations. Psychiatry Res Neuroimaging. 2020 10 30; 304:111151.
- The Role of Binocular Vision in Driving Pseudoneglect in Visual and Haptic Bisection: Evidence From Strabismic and Monocular Blind Individuals. Multisens Res. 2020 03 17; 33(4-5):549-567.
- Neuroplasticity in cerebral visual impairment (CVI): Assessing functional vision and the neurophysiological correlates of dorsal stream dysfunction. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2020 01; 108:171-181.
- Perspectives on Cerebral Visual Impairment. Semin Pediatr Neurol. 2019 10; 31:1-2.
- The Assessment of Visual Function and Functional Vision. Semin Pediatr Neurol. 2019 10; 31:30-40.
- Real-time Video Projection in an MRI for Characterization of Neural Correlates Associated with Mirror Therapy for Phantom Limb Pain. J Vis Exp. 2019 04 20; (146).
- Why Does the Cortex Reorganize after Sensory Loss? Trends Cogn Sci. 2018 07; 22(7):569-582.
- White matter changes associated with cognitive visual dysfunctions in children with cerebral palsy: A diffusion tensor imaging study. J Neurosci Res. 2018 11; 96(11):1766-1774.
- The spatial representation of number, time, and serial order following sensory deprivation: A systematic review. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2018 07; 90:371-380.
- The Spatial Musical Association of Response Codes does not depend on a normal visual experience: A study with early blind individuals. Atten Percept Psychophys. 2018 May; 80(4):813-821.
- Cross-modal cueing effects of visuospatial attention on conscious somatosensory perception. Heliyon. 2018 Apr; 4(4):e00595.
- Early blindness is associated with increased volume of the uncinate fasciculus. Eur J Neurosci. 2018 03; 47(5):427-432.
- Residual vision activation and the brain-eye-vascular triad: Dysregulation, plasticity and restoration in low vision and blindness - a review. Restor Neurol Neurosci. 2018; 36(6):767-791.
- The ego-moving metaphor of time relies on visual experience: No representation of time along the sagittal space in the blind. J Exp Psychol Gen. 2018 03; 147(3):444-450.
- Development of the Visual Word Form Area Requires Visual Experience: Evidence from Blind Braille Readers. J Neurosci. 2017 11 22; 37(47):11495-11504.
- Blindness and social trust: The effect of early visual deprivation on judgments of trustworthiness. Conscious Cogn. 2017 10; 55:156-164.
- Neonatal Assessment Visual European Grid (NAVEG): Unveiling neurological risk. Infant Behav Dev. 2017 11; 49:21-30.
- Age-related changes in structural connectivity are improved using subject-specific thresholding. J Neurosci Methods. 2017 Aug 15; 288:45-56.
- Disentangling How the Brain is Wired in Cortical (Cerebral) Visual Impairment. Semin Pediatr Neurol. 2017 05; 24(2):83-91.
- STRATEGIES TO ENHANCE RECRUITMENT METHODS IN PHANTOM LIMB PAIN CLINICAL TRIALS. Int J Clin Trials. 2017 Apr-Jun; 4(2):72-79.
- Multimodal MR-imaging reveals large-scale structural and functional connectivity changes in profound early blindness. PLoS One. 2017; 12(3):e0173064.
- Emotion processing in early blind and sighted individuals. Neuropsychology. 2017 Jul; 31(5):516-524.
- Enhanced verbal abilities in the congenitally blind. Exp Brain Res. 2017 06; 235(6):1709-1718.
- Cerebral versus Ocular Visual Impairment: The Impact on Developmental Neuroplasticity. Front Psychol. 2016; 7:1958.
- Optimizing Rehabilitation for Phantom Limb Pain Using Mirror Therapy and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation: A Randomized, Double-Blind Clinical Trial Study Protocol. JMIR Res Protoc. 2016 Jul 06; 5(3):e138.
- Characterizing Visual Field Deficits in Cerebral/Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI) Using Combined Diffusion Based Imaging and Functional Retinotopic Mapping: A Case Study. Front Syst Neurosci. 2016; 10:13.
- Using structural and functional brain imaging to uncover how the brain adapts to blindness. Ann Neurosci Psychol. 2015; 2.
- The effect of hand movements on numerical bisection judgments in early blind and sighted individuals. Cortex. 2015 Oct; 71:76-84.
- Neural correlates associated with superior tactile symmetry perception in the early blind. Cortex. 2015 Feb; 63:104-117.
- Tuning and disrupting the brain-modulating the McGurk illusion with electrical stimulation. Front Hum Neurosci. 2014; 8:533.
- The appropriate use of neurostimulation: stimulation of the intracranial and extracranial space and head for chronic pain. Neuromodulation Appropriateness Consensus Committee. Neuromodulation. 2014 Aug; 17(6):551-70; discussion 570.
- Abnormal white matter tractography of visual pathways detected by high-angular-resolution diffusion imaging (HARDI) corresponds to visual dysfunction in cortical/cerebral visual impairment. J AAPOS. 2014 Aug; 18(4):398-401.
- Uncovering the connectivity of the brain in relation to novel vision rehabilitation strategies. Neurology. 2014 Aug 05; 83(6):484-5.
- The role of prefrontal and parietal cortices in esthetic appreciation of representational and abstract art: a TMS study. Neuroimage. 2014 Oct 01; 99:443-50.
- Virtual environments for the transfer of navigation skills in the blind: a comparison of directed instruction vs. video game based learning approaches. Front Hum Neurosci. 2014; 8:223.
- The effect of musical expertise on the representation of space. Front Hum Neurosci. 2014; 8:250.
- Hemispheric asymmetry in discriminating faces differing for featural or configural (second-order relations) aspects. Psychon Bull Rev. 2014 Apr; 21(2):363-9.
- Action video game play and transfer of navigation and spatial cognition skills in adolescents who are blind. Front Hum Neurosci. 2014; 8:133.
- Perception of tactile graphics: embossings versus cutouts. Multisens Res. 2014; 27(2):111-25.
- Audio Haptic Videogaming for Developing Wayfinding Skills in Learners Who are Blind. IUI. 2014; 2014:199-208.
- Real world navigation independence in the early blind correlates with differential brain activity associated with virtual navigation. Hum Brain Mapp. 2014 Jun; 35(6):2768-78.
- Anodal tDCS to V1 blocks visual perceptual learning consolidation. Neuropsychologia. 2013 Jun; 51(7):1234-9.
- Development of an audio-based virtual gaming environment to assist with navigation skills in the blind. J Vis Exp. 2013 Mar 27; (73).
- The effect of vertical and horizontal symmetry on memory for tactile patterns in late blind individuals. Atten Percept Psychophys. 2013 Feb; 75(2):375-82.
- Strabismic amblyopia affects relational but not featural and Gestalt processing of faces. Vision Res. 2013 Mar 22; 80:19-30.
- Effects of sensory behavioral tasks on pain threshold and cortical excitability. PLoS One. 2013; 8(1):e52968.
- Enhancing Orientation and Mobility Skills in Learners who are Blind through Video gaming. Creat Cognit. 2013; 2013:353-356.
- Multisensory processing after a brain damage: clues on post-injury crossmodal plasticity from neuropsychology. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2013 Mar; 37(3):269-78.
- Teaching the blind to find their way by playing video games. PLoS One. 2012; 7(9):e44958.
- High-resolution modeling assisted design of customized and individualized transcranial direct current stimulation protocols. Neuromodulation. 2012 Jul; 15(4):306-15.
- Bench to clinical translational applications of noninvasive brain stimulation. Neuromodulation. 2012 Jul; 15(4):281-2.
- Temporal profile of functional visual rehabilitative outcomes modulated by transcranial direct current stimulation. Neuromodulation. 2012 Jul; 15(4):367-73.
- Comparison of visual field training for hemianopia with active versus sham transcranial direct cortical stimulation. Neurorehabil Neural Repair. 2012 Jul-Aug; 26(6):616-26.
- Combining visual rehabilitative training and noninvasive brain stimulation to enhance visual function in patients with hemianopia: a comparative case study. PM R. 2011 Sep; 3(9):825-35.
- Neuroplastic changes following rehabilitative training correlate with regional electrical field induced with tDCS. Neuroimage. 2011 Aug 01; 57(3):885-91.
- Clinical research with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS): challenges and future directions. Brain Stimul. 2012 Jul; 5(3):175-195.
- Building the bionic eye: an emerging reality and opportunity. Prog Brain Res. 2011; 192:3-15.
- Auditory enhancement of visual phosphene perception: the effect of temporal and spatial factors and of stimulus intensity. Neurosci Lett. 2010 Jun 25; 477(3):109-14.
- Neuroplasticity associated with tactile language communication in a deaf-blind subject. Front Hum Neurosci. 2010; 3:60.
- Navigation for the Blind through Audio-Based Virtual Environments. Ext Abstr Hum Factors Computing Syst. 2010; 2010:3409-3414.
- Enhancing Navigation Skills through Audio Gaming. Ext Abstr Hum Factors Computing Syst. 2010; 2010:3991-3996.
- Neural reorganization following sensory loss: the opportunity of change. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2010 Jan; 11(1):44-52.
- Approaches to rehabilitation for visual field defects following brain lesions. Expert Rev Med Devices. 2009 May; 6(3):291-305.
- Functional recruitment of visual cortex for sound encoded object identification in the blind. Neuroreport. 2009 Jan 28; 20(2):132-8.
- Rapid and reversible recruitment of early visual cortex for touch. PLoS One. 2008 Aug 27; 3(8):e3046.
- Novelty seeking modulates medial prefrontal activity during the anticipation of emotional stimuli. Psychiatry Res. 2008 Oct 30; 164(1):81-5.
- Neural and behavioral correlates of drawing in an early blind painter: a case study. Brain Res. 2008 Nov 25; 1242:252-62.
- Eye care in the developing world: how soon is now? Optom Vis Sci. 2008 Jul; 85(7):605-7.
- Effects of complete monocular deprivation in visuo-spatial memory. Brain Res Bull. 2008 Sep 30; 77(2-3):112-6.
- The influence of reduced visual acuity on age-related decline in spatial working memory: an investigation. Neuropsychol Dev Cogn B Aging Neuropsychol Cogn. 2008 Nov; 15(6):687-702.
- Time-dependent changes in cortical excitability after prolonged visual deprivation. Neuroreport. 2007 Oct 29; 18(16):1703-7.
- Occipital transcranial magnetic stimulation has opposing effects on visual and auditory stimulus detection: implications for multisensory interactions. J Neurosci. 2007 Oct 24; 27(43):11465-72.
- Prefrontal cortex modulation using transcranial DC stimulation reduces alcohol craving: a double-blind, sham-controlled study. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2008 Jan 01; 92(1-3):55-60.
- Shape conveyed by visual-to-auditory sensory substitution activates the lateral occipital complex. Nat Neurosci. 2007 Jun; 10(6):687-9.
- Visual topography of human intraparietal sulcus. J Neurosci. 2007 May 16; 27(20):5326-37.
- Visual phosphene perception modulated by subthreshold crossmodal sensory stimulation. J Neurosci. 2007 Apr 11; 27(15):4178-81.
- 'Who is the ideal candidate?': decisions and issues relating to visual neuroprosthesis development, patient testing and neuroplasticity. J Neural Eng. 2007 Mar; 4(1):S130-5.
- Combined activation and deactivation of visual cortex during tactile sensory processing. J Neurophysiol. 2007 Feb; 97(2):1633-41.
- An atypical presentation of visual hallucinatory experiences following prolonged blindness. Neurocase. 2006 Aug; 12(4):212-5.
- Attentional modulation of emotional stimulus processing: an fMRI study using emotional expectancy. Hum Brain Mapp. 2006 Aug; 27(8):662-77.
- Development of a cortical visual neuroprosthesis for the blind: the relevance of neuroplasticity. J Neural Eng. 2005 Dec; 2(4):R1-12.
- Dissociable networks for the expectancy and perception of emotional stimuli in the human brain. Neuroimage. 2006 Apr 01; 30(2):588-600.
- The plastic human brain cortex. Annu Rev Neurosci. 2005; 28:377-401.
- What blindness can tell us about seeing again: merging neuroplasticity and neuroprostheses. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2005 Jan; 6(1):71-7.
- Modulation of right motor cortex excitability without awareness following presentation of masked self-images. Brain Res Cogn Brain Res. 2004 Jun; 20(1):54-7.
- Visual hallucinations during prolonged blindfolding in sighted subjects. J Neuroophthalmol. 2004 Jun; 24(2):109-13.
- Feeling by sight or seeing by touch? Neuron. 2004 Apr 08; 42(1):173-9.
- Modulation in motor threshold after a severe episode of gastrointestinal distress. J ECT. 2004 Mar; 20(1):50-1.
- Unconscious modulation of motor cortex excitability revealed with transcranial magnetic stimulation. Exp Brain Res. 2004 Mar; 155(2):261-4.
- Behavioral and neuroplastic changes in the blind: evidence for functionally relevant cross-modal interactions. J Physiol Paris. 2004 Jan-Jun; 98(1-3):221-33.
- Suppression of complex visual hallucinatory experiences by occipital transcranial magnetic stimulation: a case report. Neurocase. 2003 Oct; 9(5):436-40.
- Transcranial magnetic stimulation as an investigative tool in the study of visual function. Optom Vis Sci. 2003 May; 80(5):356-68.
- Higher-order motion processing in the pulvinar. Prog Brain Res. 2001; 134:71-82.
- Responses of neurons in the cat posteromedial lateral suprasylvian cortex to moving texture patterns. Neuroscience. 2000; 97(4):611-23.
- Motion integration in a thalamic visual nucleus. Nature. 1998 Nov 19; 396(6708):265-8.
- Neuromodulatory effects of angiotensin II in the visual layers of the rat superior colliculus. Neuroreport. 1994 Dec 20; 5(18):2649-52.
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