Perceptual consequences of cortical reorganization

描述(由申请人提供)：这项研究调查了人类成人视觉系统在失去输入后皮质重组的原因和知觉后果。这项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，其结果是剥夺了正常对中心凹刺激做出反应的区域的视觉皮质，使其正常输入。利用功能磁共振成像和心理物理实验，这项研究将检验这样的假设，即知觉扭曲是由皮质重组引起的，而皮质重组是逐渐从“被动”刺激中产生的，不需要对特定的视网膜位置进行长期关注。这是我们所知道的第一个项目，询问由于MD患者的视觉皮质的变化而在感知上发生了什么。这项研究的结果之所以重要，有几个原因。这些研究将阐明视觉系统中成人皮质可塑性的潜在机制，这种可塑性的知觉后果，以及MD发生的神经和知觉变化。

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.