Lifelong learning: ocular dominance plasticity in mouse visual cortex.
Ocular dominance plasticity has long served as a successful model for examining how cortical circuits are shaped by experience. In this paradigm, altered retinal activity caused by unilateral eye-lid closure leads to dramatic shifts in the binocular response properties of neurons in the visual cortex. Much of the recent progress in identifying the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying ocular dominance plasticity has been achieved by using the mouse as a model system. In this species, monocular deprivation initiated in adulthood also causes robust ocular dominance shifts. Research on ocular dominance plasticity in the mouse is starting to provide insight into which factors mediate and influence cortical plasticity in juvenile and adult animals.
Hofer
Sonja B
SB
Max-Planck-Institut für Neurobiologie, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152 Martinsried, Germany.
Mrsic-Flogel
Thomas D
TD
Bonhoeffer
Tobias
T
Hübener
Mark
M
D000818:Animals; D003712:Dendrites / Q000502:physiology; D023882:Dominance, Ocular / Q000502:physiology*; D005829:Geniculate Bodies / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D009433:Neural Inhibition / Q000502:physiology; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D012683:Sensory Deprivation / Q000502:physiology; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology; D014793:Visual Cortex / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development*; D014795:Visual Pathways / Q000502:physiology*