The goal of this research is to understanding how the retina contributes to motion processing in the dorsal visual pathway. The neural circuitry within the retina extracts visual information and sends that information through the axons of retinal ganglion cells to the visual thalamus and, subsequently, to the cortex. Much is known about the neural pathways that perform motion computations in the cortex, but far less is known about how the retina contributes to this pathway. The proposed research will further our understanding of how the retina contributes to motion processing and the mechanisms that contribute to this neural computation.
Our first aim will directly determine whether motion detection occurs in the retina and the neural mechanisms that mediate these computations.
Our second aim will reveal the types of motion computations occurring in the retina and how excitatory and inhibitory synaptic circuitries shape these computations.
Our third aim will directly test our mechanistic understanding of the circuitry of the inner retina by evaluating the ability of synaptic models, generated from direct measurement, to accurately predict responses to natural motion. If successful, this research will provide several significant contributions. First, it will increase our understanding about how ethologically relevant information is encoded in parallel neural circuits - a fundamental goal of systems neuroscience. Second, it will explain how excitatory and inhibitory neural networks differentially shape information flow and contribute to neural computations. Finally, these findings will be applicable immediately to ongoing development of retinal prostheses and other techniques designed to restore visual function in blind humans.

Public Health Relevance

Genetic and electronic prostheses show great promise for restoring vision in blind humans. Unfortunately, our understanding of the circuitry mediating vision in the retina lags significantly behind retinal prosthetic technology. This research will greatly advance our current understanding of how motion processing occurs in the retina and will make an immediate contribution to prosthetic technologies aimed at restoring vision.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01EY027323-02
Application #
9648151
Study Section
Neurotransporters, Receptors, and Calcium Signaling Study Section (NTRC)
Program Officer
Greenwell, Thomas
Project Start
2018-03-01
Project End
2023-02-28
Budget Start
2019-03-01
Budget End
2020-02-29
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2019
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Washington
Department
Ophthalmology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
605799469
City
Seattle
State
WA
Country
United States
Zip Code
98195
Manookin, Michael B; Patterson, Sara S; Linehan, Conor M (2018) Neural Mechanisms Mediating Motion Sensitivity in Parasol Ganglion Cells of the Primate Retina. Neuron 97:1327-1340.e4