Plasticity of adult primate visual cortex

超过30个不同的区域，几乎占灵长类大脑皮层的一半，参与处理视觉信息。从解剖学的角度来看，这些区域中的每一个都应该能够通过涉及脑干的平行解剖通道独立地接收视觉信息。然而，已经观察到，一个特定区域(初级视觉区域，V1)的损害会导致视力丧失。这引发了几个问题。通向其他视觉区域的平行路径携带的是什么类型的视觉信息？为什么在没有V1的情况下，这些其他区域不能维持视力？V1损伤是否会触发成人大脑的变化，从而影响其他视觉区域？作为回答这些问题的一步，我们将研究将视觉信息直接传递到中间颞区(MT)的神经通路。MT是最具特征的视觉区域之一，其神经输入的解剖是众所周知的，有助于解释结果。我们将研究V1损伤后发送给MT的视觉信息的类型，以及这种情况导致的MT细胞电反应的变化。这是一项基础科学研究，其主要好处将是促进对正常和病理情况下视觉处理的基础机制的了解。然而，这类工作也可能为应用研究领域的发展奠定基础。这些可能包括医学(例如为脑损伤患者设计更好的康复策略)、机器人-人工智能(例如开发更强大的人工视觉系统)和认知科学(例如更好地了解限制人类对视觉刺激的反应的因素)。

Over thirty different areas, comprising nearly half the primate cerebral cortex, are involved in processing visual information. From the anatomical viewpoint, each of these areas should be capable of receiving visual information independently, through parallel anatomical channels involving the brainstem. Yet, it has been observed that lesion of one particular area (the primary visual area, V1) results in loss of vision. This raises several questions. What type of visual information is carried by the parallel pathways to the other visual areas? Why aren t these other areas capable of sustaining vision without V1? Do V1 lesions trigger changes in the adult brain, which affect the other visual areas? As a step towards answering these questions, we will study the neural pathways that convey visual information directly to the middle temporal area (MT). MT is one of the best-characterised visual areas, and the anatomy of its neural inputs is well known, facilitating the interpretation of the results. We will investigate the type of visual information being sent to MT after lesions of V1, as well as the changes in the electrical responses of MT cells which result from this type of condition. This is a basic science study, the primary benefit of which will be advancement of knowledge on the mechanisms that underlie visual processing in normal and pathological situations. However, this type of work may also lay the groundwork for developments in areas of applied research. These may include medicine (e.g. the design of better rehabilitation strategies for people with brain damage), robotics- artificial intelligence (e.g. the development of more robust artificial systems capable of vision), and cognitive sciences (e.g. a better understanding of factors that limit human responses to visual stimuli).