Perceptual consequences of cortical reorganization

描述（由申请人提供）：本研究调查了输入丢失后人类成人视觉系统皮层重组的原因和感知后果。本研究旨在对黄斑变性（MD）患者进行各种心理物理和功能磁共振实验。MD是一种损害中央视网膜的疾病，其结果是剥夺了通常对中央凹刺激作出反应的视觉皮层区域的正常输入。利用功能磁共振成像和心理物理实验，本研究将验证感知扭曲是由皮层重组引起的假设，以及皮层重组是由“被动”刺激逐渐产生的，不需要长期关注特定的视网膜位置。这是我们所知道的第一个研究MD患者视觉皮层变化在感知上发生了什么的项目。这项研究的结果很重要，原因有几个。这些研究将阐明成人视觉系统皮层可塑性的潜在机制，这种可塑性的感知后果，以及MD中发生的神经和感知变化。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This research investigates both the causes and perceptual consequences of cortical reorganization in the human adult visual system following loss of input. This research will be aimed at conducting various psychophysical and fMRI experiments on individuals with macular degeneration (MD). MD is a condition that damages the central retina, and as a consequence, deprives the region of visual cortex that normally responds to foveal stimuli of its normal input. Using fMRI and psychophysical experiments, this research will test the hypotheses that perceptual distortions result from cortical reorganization, and that cortical reorganization arises gradually from "passive" stimulation, not requiring chronic attention to a particular retina location. This is the first project we know of to ask what happens perceptually as a result of changes in visual cortex in individuals with MD. The results of this research are important for several reasons. These investigations will illuminate the mechanisms underlying adult cortical plasticity in the visual system, the perceptual consequences of that plasticity, and the neural and perceptual changes that occur in MD.