Reorganization of retinotopic cortical maps in adult mammals after lesions of the retina
Kaas, J.H.; Krubitzer, L.A.; Chino, Y.M.; Langston, A.L.; Polley, E.H.; Blair, N.
Science 248(4952): 229-231
1990
ISSN/ISBN: 0036-8075 PMID: 2326637 Document Number: 358805
The organization of the visual cortex has been considered to be highly stable in adult mammals. However, 5.degree. to 10.degree. lesions of the retina in the contralateral eye markedly altered the systematic representations of the retina in primary and secondary visual cortex when matched inputs from the ipsilateral eye were also removed. Cortical neurons that normally have receptive fields in the lesioned region of the retina acquired new receptive fields in portions of the retina surrounding the lesions. The capacity for such changes may be importanrt for normal adjustments of sensory systems to environmental contingencies and for recoveries from brain damage.