[Binocularly co-activation modulate development of functional modular systems in cats visual cortex]

Using optical imaging technique and method for histochemical cytochrome oxidase revealing we investigated in three kitten's groups (two experimental and one control) a rhythmically light stimulation on ontogenetic development of orientation columns and cytochrome oxidase blobs in visual area 18. Experimental animals were stimulated by rhythmical light for 3 hrs or 12 hrs per day respectively. It was first obtained that binocular co-activation per se, not accompanied by strabismus, indeed influences cortical columns formation during critical period. We show an opposite effect of stimulation on two different types of cortical columns, and also revealed that these affects are have retained for at least 2 weeks after stimulation was terminated. It was obtained that duration of rhythmically light stimulation determines a volume of functional and anatomic alterations: alterations revealed were more pronounced in animals stimulated for12 hrs per day.