Crossmodal wiring exists, where neurons from one sensory cortex can extend to and influence another, remaining dormant until needed.

“It's because you've got all this crossmodal wiring. In other words, you've got neurons, let's say, in the auditory cortex that actually reach all the way over to the visual cortex. And same with touch neurons and so on. These are normally silent. They don't normally do anything, but they are ready. They're like silent sentinels that say, "Hey, just in case this territory stops getting used, I'm taking over."”