Does macular degeneration affect the auditory cortex, retrosplenial cortex and the hippocampus

Macular degeneration causes loss of central vision. Previous research has focused on what effects the visual loss has on visual cortex. In this study, we will analyse previously acquired anatomical Magnetic Resonance Imagining (MRI) data that is available from the Human Connectome Project to assess whether three structures outside the visual cortex are affected. The auditory cortex has the potential to increase in volume on the basis that individuals become more reliant on hearing following visual loss. The retrosplenial cortex will be assessed with the prediction that it will exhibit lower volume on the basis that individuals with visual loss will spend less time reconstructing scenes and navigating within them. We will also test hippocampal volume and in this case predict a reduction in volume that could relate to potential reductions in spatial memory.