ECVP 2011 Abstract
doi:10.1068/v110183

Cite as:
Alexeenko S, Toporova S, Shkorbatova P, 2011, "Early binocular experience impairments produce structural changes in the visual cortex" Perception 40 ECVP Abstract Supplement, page 124

Early binocular experience impairments produce structural changes in the visual cortex

S Alexeenko, S Toporova, P Shkorbatova

In the cat, unlike primates, analysis of object form and its movement is thought to be separated between areas 17 and 18. This hypothesis is supported by existence of parallel geniculate inputs and different functional specificity of these areas. There is ample evidence that early binocular experience impairments may result in functional changes in these areas, though structural data on such changes are scarce. We studied the effects of early convergent (unilateral and bilateral) strabismus and monocular deprivation on the size (soma area) of callosal cells driven by the fixing eye, using microiontopheretic injections of HRP into single cortical ocular dominance columns. Both conditions have led to increase of mean cell size in area 17, but in area 18 only monocularly deprived cats have shown such increase. Cells in the transition zone between these areas were not affected. The observed morphological changes of callosal cells in both cortical areas might be explained by reduced suppressive binocular interactions, either due to non-fixing eye being suppressed by higher cortical areas in the case of strabismus, or its activity decreased due to lower retina illumination in the case of monocular deprivation.
[Supported by RFBR grant 09-04-01284]

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