This is the VOA Special English Health Report.

Years ago, scientists began to learn that certain parts of the brain had certain duties. For example, one part was responsible for breathing; another dealt with the sense of smell.

Scientists thought our brains could not change. But then they discovered that the brain could sometimes reorganize itself when conditions required.

Josef Rauschecker is a professor of physiology and biophysics at Georgetown University in Washington. He wondered if this ability to change could explain the idea that other senses in blind people improve to balance their lack of vision.