The thalamic lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) is found in the primary neural pathway between the eye and visual cortex, and it controls the flow of visual information to the brain in large measure through the influence of specific nuclei in the brainstem. Pathways from the brainstem can powerfully effect the LGN and are believed to reflect behavioral states, such as arousal or attention and the occurrence of eye movements. HOwever, the anatomy and physiology of these brainstem circuits are not well understood. This research will provide a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary description of the structural and functional influences of the brainstem on the LGN. In doing so, these studies will elucidate, more generally, the role of the thalamus in relaying sensory information to the e cortex, and they will aid in understanding the role of a key neural element underlying vision.
Aims 1 and 3 are to demonstrate the effects of electrical and chemical activation of individual brainstem nuclei on the extra- and intracellular responses of LGN cells to visual stimuli.
Aims 2 and 4 are to describe, at the light and electron microscopic level by means of retrograde and anterograde tracers, the morphology and ultrastructure of brainstem neurons that project to the LGN and other thalamic nuclei.
Aim 5 is to confirm and describe key thalamic pathways through which the brainstem indirectly controls the LGN.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01EY006610-07
Application #
3263031
Study Section
Visual Sciences B Study Section (VISB)
Project Start
1990-07-01
Project End
1995-03-31
Budget Start
1992-04-01
Budget End
1993-03-31
Support Year
7
Fiscal Year
1992
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Wisconsin Madison
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
161202122
City
Madison
State
WI
Country
United States
Zip Code
53715
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