All articles tagged with #visual cortex
The study identifies astrocyte-secreted CCN1 as a key factor in maintaining neural circuit stability in the adult brain, particularly in the visual cortex, by regulating synaptic maturation, inhibitory neuron development, and oligodendrocyte maturation, thereby restricting plasticity and preserving functional connectivity.
The study provides a comprehensive transcriptomic and epigenomic atlas of mouse visual cortex development, revealing continuous cell-type diversification from embryonic to postnatal stages, with detailed trajectories for neuronal and glial cell types, enhancing understanding of cortical circuit formation.
Researchers have identified a specific subpopulation of neurons in the primary visual cortex that are involved in local pattern completion and may play a role in perceiving illusory contours, although behavioral confirmation is still needed. Future studies aim to stimulate these neurons more extensively to observe potential behavioral responses in animals.
A study by MIT reveals that the brain uses separate neural circuits to process 'things' like objects and 'stuff' like liquids, with distinct regions in the visual cortex responding to each, which may help in planning physical interactions with different materials.
New research shows that the brain can learn during unstructured exploration, with neurons in the visual cortex encoding environmental features to build internal models, which helps animals learn tasks faster later. This process involves both unsupervised and supervised learning operating in parallel, reshaping our understanding of how knowledge is acquired.
New research suggests that zoning out or exploring without specific goals can still promote brain plasticity and learning, as the visual cortex encodes visual features even without task training, potentially speeding up future learning and revealing different types of neural learning mechanisms.
New research from the University of Pittsburgh reveals that the brain uses separate synaptic sites for spontaneous and evoked signaling, allowing it to balance stability with adaptability, which has implications for understanding learning, memory, and neurological disorders.
The human brain can read words without vowels by recognizing patterns, using context, and making predictions based on past experience and common letter combinations, particularly in the visual word form area of the brain, which helps in identifying familiar letter patterns and reconstructing words even when vowels are missing.
Researchers have enhanced the BARseq technique to map millions of neurons, revealing how vision loss alters the visual cortex to resemble neighboring brain areas. This advancement could inform treatments for brain disorders like Alzheimer’s and schizophrenia by providing deeper insights into neural connections.
Researchers at Harvard Medical School have made progress in understanding how daydreaming affects the brain by studying mice. They found that neurons in the visual cortex fire in patterns similar to when viewing actual images, indicating daydream-like activity. This suggests that daydreams may influence how the brain processes visual information over time, potentially contributing to brain plasticity. The study highlights the importance of quiet wakefulness and its possible role in learning and memory.
The thalamus, traditionally seen as a relay station, has been found to play a crucial role in adult brain plasticity, challenging the belief that adaptability mainly occurs in the cortex. Through mouse models in vision studies, researchers discovered that the thalamus actively participates in adaptive processes, particularly in sensory and motor information. These findings could lead to innovative therapeutic approaches for conditions like lazy eye, shifting the focus from the cortex to also include the thalamus.
Researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and UC Berkeley have identified sustained brain activity in the occipitotemporal area of the visual cortex, suggesting it may be the region responsible for conscious awareness. This stable representation allows for stable perception over time, despite changing levels of activity. The findings could contribute to a better understanding of consciousness and potentially help in treating conditions such as unilateral neglect.