Stimulus-evoked and resting-state alpha oscillations show a linked dependence on patterned visual experience for...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Visual Neuroscience
• Developmental Neuroscience

Background:

• Congenital blindness from cataracts can lead to lasting visual cortex alterations.
• Reduced occipital alpha oscillations are observed post-cataract reversal during visual tasks.
• The link between reduced alpha oscillations and impaired visual behavior in these individuals remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare resting-state and stimulus-evoked alpha activity in individuals treated for congenital cataracts (CC) versus normally sighted individuals (SC).
• To investigate if reduced alpha oscillations are task-specific or related to visual behavior deficits.
• To explore the relationship between alpha oscillations and visual acuity in CC individuals.

Main Methods:

• Comparison of resting-state and stimulus-evoked alpha activity between CC (n=13) and SC (n=13) participants.
• Utilized the visual impulse response function with white noise stimuli (0-30 Hz).
• Assessed evoked alpha response likelihood, power, and correlation with resting-state alpha and visual acuity.

Main Results:

• CC individuals showed a reduced likelihood of exhibiting an evoked alpha response compared to SC individuals.
• Stimulus-evoked alpha power was reduced in CC individuals and correlated with reduced resting-state alpha power.
• CC individuals with an evoked alpha peak had better visual acuity than those without.

Conclusions:

• Impaired resting-state and stimulus-evoked alpha oscillations in CC individuals suggest altered visual hierarchy processing.
• This altered interaction of top-down and bottom-up visual processing likely contributes to incomplete behavioral recovery.
• Alpha oscillations may serve as a biomarker for visual processing deficits and recovery potential after congenital cataracts.