Work

The pulvinar regulates plasticity in human visual cortex

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: In normally sighted human adults, two-hours of monocular deprivation is sufficient to transiently alter ocular dominance. Here we show that this is associated with a reduction of functional connectivity between the pulvinar and early visual cortex, selective for the pulvinar-to-V1 directionality. Across participants, the strength of the pulvinar-to-V1 connectivity was negatively correlated with the ocular dominance shift, implying less plasticity in participants with stronger influence of the pulvinar over V1. Our results support a revised model of adult V1 plasticity, where short-term reorganization is gated by modulatory signals relayed by the pulvinar. Teaser Short-term monocular deprivation triggers a reorganization of the visual processing network, measured with 7TfMRI in human adults.

Source: Science Advances

DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adw9988

Authors: Miriam Acquafredda, Jan W. Kurzawski, Laura Biagi, Michela Tosetti, Maria Concetta Morrone, Paola Binda

Institutions: University of Pisa, Maastricht University, Fondazione Stella Maris

Language: English

Topic: Visual perception and processing mechanisms

Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience

Field: Neuroscience

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $4,500