title: Effects of long-term potentiation in the human visual cortex: a functional magnetic resonance imaging study.
abstract: Applying functional magnetic resonance imaging techniques, hemodynamic responses elicited by slowly flashing checkerboards (0.25 Hz) were measured both before and after a block of rapidly presented checkerboards (9 Hz -- a 'photic tetanus') was delivered. It has been shown previously, using electroencephalography, that this photic tetanus potentiates components of the visual-evoked potential. In the present study, hemodynamic responses in the extrastriate visual cortex were significantly increased to checkerboards presented at a low frequency after the administration of the photic tetanus. These results support the idea that long-term potentiation can be demonstrated non-invasively within the human visual cortex and provide evidence that the plastic changes are localized within the secondary visual cortex.
authors.affiliation: Research Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand. w.clapp@auckland.ac.nz
authors.forename: Wesley C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Clapp
authors.forename: Tino
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zaehle
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lutz
authors.forename: Val L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Marcar
authors.forename: Ian J
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Kirk
authors.forename: Jeff P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Hamm
authors.forename: Tim J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Teyler
authors.forename: Michael C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Corballis
authors.forename: Lutz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jancke
mesh_terms: D001931:Brain Mapping; D005074:Evoked Potentials, Visual / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D017774:Long-Term Potentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D014793:Visual Cortex / Q000502:physiology*