Abstract

Human visual function declines with age. Much of this decline is associated with neuronal changes in the central visual pathways. The purpose of this proposal is, for the first time A highly experienced, productive, and innovative investigator proposes to determine what changes in the visual system account for age-related declines in visual performance. The central hypothesis is that the most relevant alterations in the system occur in visual cortex rather than in the eye, retina, or LGN. Impressive preliminary results from aged and young monkeys support that contention. An array of related experiments are now proposed to evaluate possible changes in the properties of neurons in primary visual cortex, and possible changes in neurotransmitter expression in cortex, and relate these findings to visual behavior in the same monkeys, as well as to possible alternations in the LGN and eye.

  Funding Agency

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AG017922-05
Application #
6849238
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-VISB (04))
Program Officer
Monjan, Andrew A
Project Start
2001-01-01
Project End
2007-12-31
Budget Start
2004-01-15
Budget End
2007-12-31
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2005
Total Cost
$458,363
Indirect Cost

  Institution

Name
University of Utah
Department
Biology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
009095365
City
Salt Lake City
State
UT
Country
United States
Zip Code
84112

  Publications

Fu, Y; Wang, X S; Wang, Y C et al. (2010) The effects of aging on the strength of surround suppression of receptive field of V1 cells in monkeys. Neuroscience 169:874-81
Liang, Zhen; Yang, Yun; Li, Guangxing et al. (2010) Aging affects the direction selectivity of MT cells in rhesus monkeys. Neurobiol Aging 31:863-73
Yang, Yun; Liang, Zhen; Li, Guangxing et al. (2009) Aging affects response variability of V1 and MT neurons in rhesus monkeys. Brain Res 1274:21-7
Yang, Yun; Zhang, Jie; Liang, Zhen et al. (2009) Aging affects the neural representation of speed in Macaque area MT. Cereb Cortex 19:1957-67
Zhang, Jie; Wang, Xiusong; Wang, Yongchang et al. (2008) Spatial and temporal sensitivity degradation of primary visual cortical cells in senescent rhesus monkeys. Eur J Neurosci 28:201-7
Yang, Y; Liang, Z; Li, G et al. (2008) Aging affects contrast response functions and adaptation of middle temporal visual area neurons in rhesus monkeys. Neuroscience 156:748-57
Yu, S; Wang, Y; Li, X et al. (2006) Functional degradation of extrastriate visual cortex in senescent rhesus monkeys. Neuroscience 140:1023-9
Hua, Tianmiao; Li, Xiangrui; He, Lihua et al. (2006) Functional degradation of visual cortical cells in old cats. Neurobiol Aging 27:155-62
Wang, Yongchang; Zhou, Yifeng; Ma, Yuanye et al. (2005) Degradation of signal timing in cortical areas V1 and V2 of senescent monkeys. Cereb Cortex 15:403-8
Liu, Ning; Yu, Shan; Zhou, Yifeng et al. (2005) Age-related effects of bromocriptine on sensory gating in rhesus monkeys. Neuroreport 16:603-6

Showing the most recent 10 out of 12 publications