We have made a tremendous amount of progress understanding sensory function. But this understanding fails to account for responses to natural stimuli. We propose to develop a mechanistic understanding of how natural stimuli are encoded in the primate retina through a combination of directed experimentation and quantitative modeling. This will encompass three aims: (1) determining the circuit mechanisms that explain striking differences in responses of On parasol ganglion cells to natural and arti?cial stimuli; (2) determining the origin, properties, and functional signi?cance of the receptive ?eld surround of retinal ganglion cells; and, (3) developing and applying new tools to reveal the importance of cone adaptation in shaping ganglion cell responses to natural stimuli.

Public Health Relevance

Our understanding of how retina neurons works fails to account for responses to natural images - the stimuli for which the system evolved to work. The proposed work will improve our understanding of this issue. This is a requisite step in identifying the role of key circuit mechanisms in normal and aberrant natural vision and in the design of devices such as retinal prostheses to replicate or replace the retina.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01EY028542-02
Application #
9754831
Study Section
Neurotransporters, Receptors, and Calcium Signaling Study Section (NTRC)
Program Officer
Greenwell, Thomas
Project Start
2018-08-05
Project End
2023-07-31
Budget Start
2019-08-01
Budget End
2020-07-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2019
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Washington
Department
Physiology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
605799469
City
Seattle
State
WA
Country
United States
Zip Code
98195