Abstract

The principal objective of the proposed research is to study the physiology and effect on visually-related behavior, of a cholinergic feedback loop in a central visual processing area of the brain. The isthmo-tectal network in the midbrain of a lower vertebrate, the leopard frog, will be used as a model system.
The specific aims are: 1) Explore the behavioral changes caused by unilateral and bilateral ablation of nucleus isthmi. 2) Block isthmo-tectal input to determine the effect of loss of n. isthmi input on tectal electrical activity. 3) Investigate the long term behavioral effects of ablation of n. isthmi alone and in conjunction with ablation to other brain structures to determine the extent of recovery of visual function. 4) Explore the behavioral consequences of tectal application of cholinergic antagonists. The long-term objective of this study is to determine how visual information is processed in the central nervous system in order to further our understanding of vision.

  Funding Agency

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01EY004366-06
Application #
3258741
Study Section
Visual Sciences B Study Section (VISB)
Project Start
1982-07-01
Project End
1990-03-31
Budget Start
1988-04-01
Budget End
1990-03-31
Support Year
6
Fiscal Year
1988
Total Cost
Indirect Cost

  Institution

Name
Temple University
Department
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
City
Philadelphia
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
19122

  Publications

King Jr, J G; Lettvin, J Y; Gruberg, E D (1999) Selective, unilateral, reversible loss of behavioral responses to looming stimuli after injection of tetrodotoxin of cadmium chloride into the frog optic nerve. Brain Res 841:20-6
Dudkin, E A; Gruberg, E R (1999) Relative number of cells projecting from contralateral and ipsilateral nucleus isthmi to loci in the optic tectum is dependent on visuotopic location: horseradish peroxidase study in the leopard frog. J Comp Neurol 414:212-6
Stull, A K; Gruberg, E R (1998) Prey selection in the leopard frog: choosing in biased and unbiased situations. Brain Behav Evol 52:37-45
Dudkin, E A; Myers, P Z; Ramirez-Latorre, J A et al. (1998) Calcium signals monitored from leopard frog optic tectum after the optic nerve has been selectively loaded with calcium sensitive dye. Neurosci Lett 258:124-6
Weber, B C; Waldeck, R F; Gruberg, E R (1996) Seeing beyond the midline: the role of the contralateral isthmotectal projection in the leopard frog. Vis Neurosci 13:467-76
Waldeck, R F; Gruberg, E R (1995) Studies on the optic chiasm of the leopard frog. I. Selective loss of visually elicited avoidance behavior after optic chiasm hemisection. Brain Behav Evol 46:84-94
Tsai, J; Waldeck, R F; Gruberg, E R (1995) Studies on the optic chiasm of the leopard frog. II. Organization of retinotectal fibers in the optic chiasm. Brain Behav Evol 46:95-107
Waldeck, R F; Gruberg, E R (1995) Regrowth of optic fibers and behavioral recovery after optic chiasm transection. Exp Neurol 132:229-38
Gruberg, E R; Hughes, T E; Karten, H J (1994) Synaptic interrelationships between the optic tectum and the ipsilateral nucleus isthmi in Rana pipiens. J Comp Neurol 339:353-64
Gruberg, E R; Wallace, M T; Caine, H S et al. (1991) Behavioral and physiological consequences of unilateral ablation of the nucleus isthmi in the leopard frog. Brain Behav Evol 37:92-103

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