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New structure relating to binocular vision discovered in the cerebral cortex of primates
(2009.07.01)
Within our brains we have a system for processing the data from each of our eyes into a single image. This data processing happens within the primary visual cortex. Adjoining the primary visual cortex is columnar structure that simultaneously takes in the visual data coming from each eye. Because this columnar structure gives predominance to the data coming from either the left or right eye it has been known as the "Ocular dominance column" since its discovery 50 years ago.
Using primates (macaque monkeys), the research group of Toru Takahata (Vanderbilt University) and Tetsuo Yamamori of the National Institute for Basic Biology found that when the visual balance of the left and right eyes is disrupted neural activity within the primary visual cortex undergoes a change and previously unknown structures within the ocular dominance column become clear. In addition the group also found that the brainfs reaction to this change in visual balance occurs much faster than previously predicted. The results of this research were published online in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on July 6 2009.
"Expression of immediate-early genes reveals functional compartments within ocular dominance columns after brief monocular inactivation"
Authors: Toru Takahata, Noriyuki Higo, Jon H. Kaas and Tetsuo Yamamori
For details please see the article linked below:
PNAS website