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Monocular Visual Deprivation and Ocular Dominance Plasticity Measurement in the Mouse Primary Visual Cortex
Published on: February 8, 2020
Repetitive adaptation induces plasticity of spatial frequency tuning in cat primary visual cortex
S Marshansky1, S Shumikhina, S Molotchnikoff
1Department of Biological Sciences, University of Montreal, Montréal, PQ, H3C 3J7, Canada.
Neuroscience
|October 26, 2010
Summary
Sensory neurons adapt to stimuli. Repeated adaptation in cat visual cortex neurons showed shifts in spatial frequency preference, indicating a "memory" of prior stimuli and broader visual system plasticity.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Visual System Physiology
- Sensory Adaptation
Background:
- Sensory neurons adapt to prolonged stimuli, altering response properties.
- In adult cat visual cortex, neurons shift preferred spatial frequency (SF) after adaptation to non-preferred SF.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate if a first adaptation influences a second adaptation in visual cortex neurons.
- Determine the impact of repeated spatial frequency adaptation on neuronal tuning and response strength.
Main Methods:
- Electrophysiological recordings in anesthetized cats' visual cortex.
- Applied non-preferred spatial frequency for two successive adaptation periods with a recovery interval.
- Analyzed shifts in spatial frequency tuning curves and response magnitude.
Main Results:
- First adaptation caused attractive shifts (68%) in SF tuning.
- Second adaptation showed more repulsive shifts (31% vs. 49% attractive) and increased magnitude of attractive shifts.
- Repeated adaptation enhanced firing rate for acquired SF and decreased response variability.
Conclusions:
- Visual cortex neurons retain a "memory" trace of previous stimulus properties after adaptation.
- Neuronal properties in adult cortex are dynamic, with repeated adaptation altering SF selectivity and response strength.
- Adaptation-induced plasticity in the visual system is broader than previously assumed.
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