Postnatal development of the visual cortex and the influence of environment

Wiesel, Torsten N.

doi:10.1038/299583a0

Cited by 901 publications

(364 citation statements)

References 63 publications

(74 reference statements)

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“…Wiesel, 1982). In flies, recent anatomical studies focus on the effects of different light regimes on the development of the animals' visual neuropils.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Early visual experience and the receptive-field organization of optic flow processing interneurons in the fly motion pathway

et al. 2001

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The distribution of local preferred directions and motion sensitivities within the receptive fields of so-called tangential neurons in the fly visual system was previously found to match optic flow fields as induced by certain self-motions. The complex receptive-field organization of the tangential neurons and the recent evidence showing that the orderly development of the fly's peripheral visual system depends on visual experience led us to investigate whether or not early visual input is required to establish the functional receptive-field properties of such tangential neurons. In electrophysiological investigations of two identified tangential neurons, it turned out that dark-hatched flies which were kept in complete darkness for 2 days develop basically the same receptive-field organization as flies which were raised under seasonal light0dark conditions and were free to move in their cages. We did not find any evidence that the development of the sophisticated receptive-field organization of tangential neurons depends on sensory experience. Instead, the input to the tangential neurons seems to be "hardwired" and the specificity of these cells to optic flow induced during self-motions of the animal may have evolved on a phylogenetical time scale.

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“…Wiesel, 1982). In flies, recent anatomical studies focus on the effects of different light regimes on the development of the animals' visual neuropils.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Early visual experience and the receptive-field organization of optic flow processing interneurons in the fly motion pathway

et al. 2001

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“…In contrast to a host of literature covering this topic in mammals (for reviews see refs. 4,16,44,55,59), no such information is available about birds so far. This paper is the first to demonstrate the existence of a sensitive period for the effects of monocular deprivation in an altricial bird, the zebra finch.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The sensitive period for the morphological effects of monocular deprivation in two nuclei of the tectofugal pathway of zebra finches

Herrmann

Bischof

1988

Brain Research

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Previous experiments with 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG) suggested the existence of a critical period for the effects of monocular deprivation in the nucleus rotundus of zebra finches. The present study concerns the time course of this sensitive period for the morphological effects of monocular deprivation in two areas of the tectofugal visual pathway of zebra finches, the nucleus rotundus of the thalamus and the telencephalic ectostriatum. Cell size and volume changes were measured in birds subjected to 40 days of unilateral eye closure starting at ages spaced regularly throughout the first 70 days of life. The results show that monocular deprivation markedly affects cell size in both areas if the treatment starts at one or 10 days posthatch. The differences between deprived and non-deprived neurons decline monotonically with increasing visual experience prior to deprivation. However, deprivation onset at day 40 again causes as severe effects as early monocular closure. Deprivation as from day 50 or later no longer leads to abnormalities. The measurements of the volume of the nucleus rotundus parallel the cell size measurements, with the exception that the second increase in sensitivity occurs with deprivation onset at day 50 instead of day 40. These data indicate that the time course of the sensitive period for the effects of monocular deprivation may be double-peaked: the sensitivity for external stimuli declines from hatch until day 30, but has another peak at 40-50 days of life. The definite end of the sensitive period, as determined with this method, can therefore be assumed to be at around day 50-60.

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“…Both endogenous stimuli and appropriate exogenous stimulation are necessary for normal neuronal development during a species-specific critical period, in humans beginning in the second to third trimester and ending at 2 to 3 years of age for the visual system, 20 Early research on the development of the visual system has demonstrated monocular visual deprivation during this critical period, can lead to profound alterations in the development of the visual cortex and its connections. 15,16 At a specific, but variable time point, each sensory system requires appropriate exogenous stimulation that cues the movement of cortical neurons into sensory-specific functional columns. Deprivation or abnormal exogenous stimulation during this critical period will potentially disrupt normal development.…”

Section: Processes Of Neurosensory Developmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Asymmetric development of cortical ocular dominance columns, as measured by left and right visual cortex neuronal responses to ocular stimulation reflect what is called ocular dominance plasticity. 15,16 With monocular visual deprivation, there is unilateral loss of cortical function and regression of neuronal arborization in geniculate-cortical innervations and ocular dominance column development on the affected side, and accentuated contralateral neuronal arborization. 98,99 There is also shrinkage in the size of the LGN on the affected side and compensatory increase in the contralateral LGN.…”

Section: Role Of Sleep In Brain Developmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The exogenous visual experience becomes important after the infant reaches 38 to 40 weeks gestation, and is vital to resolution and refinement of retina to cortex connections, development of additional ocular dominance columns, and of directional columns of the primary visual cortex. 15,382,426,427 These need to include columns for lines, patterns, movement, direction and color perception. For these to occur optimally, the infant requires adequate indirect illumination for visualization of objects or images, ability to focus (focal length of 10 to 12 inches) and attend (not sedated) to the human face and other objects, novelty or change, movement and introduction of color (after 2 to 3 months).…”

Section: To 32 Weeks Gestational Age and Beyondmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The development of potentially better practices to support the neurodevelopment of infants in the NICU

et al. 2007

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Objective: To review the existing evidence used to identify potentially better care practices that support newborn brain development.Study Design: Literature review.Result: Sixteen potentially better practices are identified and grouped into two operational clinical bundles based upon timing for recommended implementation. Conclusion:Existing evidence supports the implementation of selected care practices that potentially may support newborn brain development.

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Postnatal development of the visual cortex and the influence of environment

Cited by 901 publications

References 63 publications

Early visual experience and the receptive-field organization of optic flow processing interneurons in the fly motion pathway

Early visual experience and the receptive-field organization of optic flow processing interneurons in the fly motion pathway

The sensitive period for the morphological effects of monocular deprivation in two nuclei of the tectofugal pathway of zebra finches

The development of potentially better practices to support the neurodevelopment of infants in the NICU

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