Maurice Ptito

Dr. Maurice Ptito is a Professor of Visual Neuroscience at the School of Optometry (Université de Montréal). He is an internationally recognized neuroscientist whose work has significantly shaped contemporary understanding of neuroplasticity, sensory substitution, and visual system reorganization, particularly in the context of congenital and acquired blindness. He holds a doctorate in Medicine and a Ph.D. in Neuropsychology. He also holds the H. Sanders Research Chair in Visual Science. Dr. Ptito's research integrates psychophysical, neuroanatomical, and neuroimaging methods to examine how the brain processes sensory information in the absence of primary sensory modalities. A core focus of his work has been the recruitment and repurposing of visual cortical areas in blind individuals, in which he has demonstrated the occipital cortex's capacity to process tactile and auditory inputs via sensory substitution devices. His work has helped establish the concept of supra-modal processing and contributed to the development of functional frameworks for understanding cross-modal cortical reorganization. He has also made notable contributions to the study of the hippocampus, especially regarding its role in spatial memory and navigation under conditions of visual deprivation. His findings suggest that hippocampal function is maintained and may even adapt via alternative sensory pathways, with implications for both cognitive neuroscience and rehabilitative approaches. Dr. Ptito has received several awards and was recently appointed a Knight of the National Order of Quebec.