Katharina Buczek
Sight is a complicated function that involves more than a functioning retina. The process begins in the eye; then, a signal is sent throughout the brain. And it is within the brain’s central circuits where visual perception actually occurs.
But, until now, scientists have thought that these signals needed to be received during childhood in order for the central circuits to be wired correctly. The rodent models proved otherwise.
In fact, the adults saw significant central visual pathway restoration– especially among the circuits that relay information from both eyes.
“The restoration of visual function at the level of the brain was much greater than expected from the improvements we saw at the level of the retinae,” Gandhi explained.
“The fact that this treatment works so well in the central visual pathway in adulthood supports a new concept– which is that there is latent potential for vision that is just waiting to be triggered.”
So now, a plethora of research avenues have just been opened. And first on Gandhi’s agenda is the potential development of new retinoid therapies that could help rescue adults’ central visual pathway.
To read the study’s complete findings, which have since been published in Current Biology, visit the link here.
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