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Updated: Jun 28, 2026

Monocular Visual Deprivation and Ocular Dominance Plasticity Measurement in the Mouse Primary Visual Cortex
Published on: February 8, 2020
Bidirectional synaptic mechanisms of ocular dominance plasticity in visual cortex
Gordon B Smith1, Arnold J Heynen, Mark F Bear
1Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
Monocular lid suture in mice causes visual cortex plasticity. This involves deprived-eye response weakening via long-term depression (LTD) and open-eye response strengthening via long-term potentiation (LTP).
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Visual System Plasticity
- Synaptic Plasticity
Background:
- Monocular lid suture in mammals with binocular vision induces bidirectional plasticity in the visual cortex.
- This plasticity involves rapid weakening of deprived-eye responses and delayed strengthening of open-eye responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the evidence supporting a three-stage model of visual cortex plasticity following monocular deprivation.
- To discuss the underlying molecular mechanisms, including long-term depression (LTD) and long-term potentiation (LTP).
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on visual cortex plasticity.
- Analysis of studies investigating synaptic mechanisms like AMPA and NMDA receptor involvement.
Main Results:
- Deprived-eye response weakening is primarily mediated by alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionate (AMPA) receptor endocytosis via LTD.
- A decreased modification threshold, influenced by N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor subunit changes (NR2A/NR2B ratio), facilitates potentiation.
- Open-eye response strengthening is likely mediated by LTP, supported by in vivo studies.
Conclusions:
- The three-stage model provides a framework for understanding visual cortex plasticity after monocular deprivation.
- AMPA receptor LTD and NMDA receptor modulation are key players in this process.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the mechanisms of open-eye potentiation.
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