Retinal-detachment induces massive immediate reorganization in visual-cortex

Authors

Leisa M. Schmid, University of Queensland
Marcello G.P Rosa, University of Queensland
Michael B. Calford, University of Wollongong

RIS ID

80118

Publication Details

Schmid, L. M., Rosa, M. G.P. & Calford, M. B. (1995). Retinal-Detachment Induces Massive Immediate Reorganization In Visual-Cortex. Neuroreport, 6 (9), 1349-1353.

Abstract

Large inactive regions of the retina of adult cats were produced by the novel method of inducing monocular retinal detachment. Within a few hours, neurones throughout the detachment projection zone in primary visual cortex (55-136 mm²), including some > 4.5 mm from its boundary, were found to have large receptive fields displaced onto intact retina. The new receptive fields of some neurones represented shifts of up to 9 mm across the retinotopic representation. For these rapid changes to occur pre-existing viable circuits must provide a cortical locus with inputs from a wide extent of the retina. Receptive fields, and the retinotopic map, for stimulation of the other eye were unchanged.