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Fleming LL, Defenderfer M, Demirayak P, Stewart P, Decarlo DK, Visscher KM. Impact of deprivation and preferential usage on functional connectivity between early visual cortex and category selective visual regions. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.17.593020. [PMID: 38798355 PMCID: PMC11118586 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.17.593020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Human behavior can be remarkably shaped by experience, such as the removal of sensory input. Many studies of conditions such as stroke, limb amputation, and vision loss have examined how the removal of input changes brain function. However, an important question has yet to be answered: when input is lost, does the brain change its connectivity to preferentially use some remaining inputs over others? In individuals with healthy vision, the central portion of the retina is preferentially used for everyday visual tasks, due to its ability to discriminate fine details. However, when central vision is lost in conditions like macular degeneration, peripheral vision must be relied upon for those everyday tasks, with certain portions receiving "preferential" usage over others. Using resting-state fMRI collected during total darkness, we examined how deprivation and preferential usage influence the intrinsic functional connectivity of sensory cortex by studying individuals with selective vision loss due to late stages of macular degeneration. We found that cortical regions representing spared portions of the peripheral retina, regardless of whether they are preferentially used, exhibit plasticity of intrinsic functional connectivity in macular degeneration. Cortical representations of spared peripheral retinal locations showed stronger connectivity to MT, a region involved in processing motion. These results suggest that long-term loss of central vision can produce widespread effects throughout spared representations in early visual cortex, regardless of whether those representations are preferentially used. These findings support the idea that connections to visual cortex maintain the capacity for change well after critical periods of visual development. Highlights Portions of early visual cortex representing central vs. peripheral vision exhibit different patterns of connectivity to category-selective visual regions.When central vision is lost, cortical representations of peripheral vision display stronger functional connections to MT than central representations.When central vision is lost, connectivity to regions selective for tasks that involve central vision (FFA and PHA) are not significantly altered.These effects do not depend on which locations of peripheral vision are used more.
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Sharma A, Singh A, Bansal Y, Mohan A, Gnanaraj R, Khulbe P, Pangtey K, Tripathi K, Khan MA, Sharma A, Jain M. Dyschromatopsia and contrast sensitivity changes in COVID-19 patients. Indian J Ophthalmol 2024; 72:664-671. [PMID: 38153970 DOI: 10.4103/ijo.ijo_1437_23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To evaluate the alterations in the psycho-physical tests, contrast sensitivity (CS) and hue discrimination (total estimation score, TES) in COVID-19 patients. METHODS A prospective case-control study was undertaken in 2021-22 to look at CS and TES among COVID-19 patients and RT-PCR negative normal subjects by a mobile app "smart optometry" and X-Rite's free online version of Farnsworth-Munsell 100 hue test. Strict visual acuity (minimum of 6/9 equivalent on Snellen) and other clinical parameters were used as exclusion criteria to filter potentially confounding pre-receptoral co-morbid conditions. The effect of mismatch in recruiting age and sex matched controls during the pandemic were analyzed by multivariate linear regression. RESULT One-way ANOVA ruled out any influence of gender on CS and TES; however, there was significant difference in the TES on Mann Whitney U test (TES- 2.95 +/- 3.8 for cases; 0.30 +/- 1.1 for controls; p <0.001) and it persisted after accounting for age. Six controls with breakthrough infections had a significant deterioration in TES (Mean scores -3.0; 95% CI = -5.89 to -0.11; p = 0.04) on paired t test. Qualitative analysis showed that S-cone mediated deficiencies outnumber those affecting M-L cone mediated deficiencies. Among 53 subjects exhibiting three sensory features, anosmia, loss of taste and dyschromatopsia, nine (16.98%) had all features concurrently. CONCLUSION The study demonstrates that COVID-19 infection leads to altered TES representing dyschromatopsia -an ocular counterpart of anosmia, with little difference on CS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditi Sharma
- Department of Ophthalmology, VCSG Government Institute of Medical Science and Research, Srinagar, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Aditya Singh
- Department of Ophthalmology, VCSG Government Institute of Medical Science and Research, Srinagar, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Yashik Bansal
- Department of Microbiology, VCSG Government Institute of Medical Science and Research, Srinagar, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Aditi Mohan
- Department of Ophthalmology, VCSG Government Institute of Medical Science and Research, Srinagar, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Ramya Gnanaraj
- Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Sue Anschutz Rodgers Eye Center, Colorado, United States
| | - Pranita Khulbe
- Department of Ophthalmology, VCSG Government Institute of Medical Science and Research, Srinagar, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Kavita Pangtey
- Department of Ophthalmology, VCSG Government Institute of Medical Science and Research, Srinagar, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Kaushiki Tripathi
- Department of Ophthalmology, VCSG Government Institute of Medical Science and Research, Srinagar, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Mohammad Ali Khan
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, L8P 1H6, Canada
| | - Akshita Sharma
- Department of Ophthalmology, VCSG Government Institute of Medical Science and Research, Srinagar, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Manish Jain
- Department of Ophthalmology, VCSG Government Institute of Medical Science and Research, Srinagar, Uttarakhand, India
- Department of Ophthalmology, Al Dhannah Hospital, Ruwais, Western Region, Abu Dhabi, UAE
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Godat T, Kohout K, Parkins K, Yang Q, McGregor JE, Merigan WH, Williams DR, Patterson SS. Cone-Opponent Ganglion Cells in the Primate Fovea Tuned to Noncardinal Color Directions. J Neurosci 2024; 44:e1738232024. [PMID: 38548340 PMCID: PMC11063829 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1738-23.2024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
Abstract
A long-standing question in vision science is how the three cone photoreceptor types-long (L), medium (M), and short (S) wavelength sensitive-combine to generate our perception of color. Hue perception can be described along two opponent axes: red-green and blue-yellow. Psychophysical measurements of color appearance indicate that the cone inputs to the red-green and blue-yellow opponent axes are M vs. L + S and L vs. M + S, respectively. However, the "cardinal directions of color space" revealed by psychophysical measurements of color detection thresholds following adaptation are L vs. M and S vs. L + M. These cardinal directions match the most common cone-opponent retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in the primate retina. Accordingly, the cone opponency necessary for color appearance is thought to be established in the cortex. While neurons with the appropriate M vs. L + S and L vs. M + S opponency have been reported in the retina and lateral geniculate nucleus, their existence continues to be debated. Resolving this long-standing debate is necessary because a complete account of the cone opponency in the retinal output is critical for understanding how downstream neural circuits process color. Here, we performed adaptive optics calcium imaging to noninvasively measure foveal RGC light responses in the living Macaca fascicularis eye. We confirm the presence of L vs. M + S and M vs. L + S neurons with noncardinal cone opponency and demonstrate that cone-opponent signals in the retinal output are more diverse than classically thought.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler Godat
- Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14607
- Institute of Optics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14611
| | - Kendall Kohout
- Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14607
| | - Keith Parkins
- Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14607
| | - Qiang Yang
- Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14607
| | - Juliette E McGregor
- Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14607
- Flaum Eye Institute, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York 14642
| | - William H Merigan
- Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14607
- Flaum Eye Institute, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York 14642
| | - David R Williams
- Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14607
- Institute of Optics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14611
- Flaum Eye Institute, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York 14642
| | - Sara S Patterson
- Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14607
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Adámek P, Grygarová D, Jajcay L, Bakštein E, Fürstová P, Juríčková V, Jonáš J, Langová V, Neskoroďana I, Kesner L, Horáček J. The Gaze of Schizophrenia Patients Captured by Bottom-up Saliency. SCHIZOPHRENIA (HEIDELBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 10:21. [PMID: 38378724 PMCID: PMC10879495 DOI: 10.1038/s41537-024-00438-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
Schizophrenia (SCHZ) notably impacts various human perceptual modalities, including vision. Prior research has identified marked abnormalities in perceptual organization in SCHZ, predominantly attributed to deficits in bottom-up processing. Our study introduces a novel paradigm to differentiate the roles of top-down and bottom-up processes in visual perception in SCHZ. We analysed eye-tracking fixation ground truth maps from 28 SCHZ patients and 25 healthy controls (HC), comparing these with two mathematical models of visual saliency: one bottom-up, based on the physical attributes of images, and the other top-down, incorporating machine learning. While the bottom-up (GBVS) model revealed no significant overall differences between groups (beta = 0.01, p = 0.281, with a marginal increase in SCHZ patients), it did show enhanced performance by SCHZ patients with highly salient images. Conversely, the top-down (EML-Net) model indicated no general group difference (beta = -0.03, p = 0.206, lower in SCHZ patients) but highlighted significantly reduced performance in SCHZ patients for images depicting social interactions (beta = -0.06, p < 0.001). Over time, the disparity between the groups diminished for both models. The previously reported bottom-up bias in SCHZ patients was apparent only during the initial stages of visual exploration and corresponded with progressively shorter fixation durations in this group. Our research proposes an innovative approach to understanding early visual information processing in SCHZ patients, shedding light on the interplay between bottom-up perception and top-down cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petr Adámek
- Center for Advanced Studies of Brain and Consciousness, National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czech Republic.
- Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.
| | - Dominika Grygarová
- Center for Advanced Studies of Brain and Consciousness, National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czech Republic
- Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Lucia Jajcay
- Center for Advanced Studies of Brain and Consciousness, National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czech Republic
- Institute of Computer Science of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Eduard Bakštein
- Early Episodes of SMI Research Center, National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czech Republic
- Department of Cybernetics, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Czech Technical University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Petra Fürstová
- Early Episodes of SMI Research Center, National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czech Republic
| | - Veronika Juríčková
- Center for Advanced Studies of Brain and Consciousness, National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czech Republic
- First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Juraj Jonáš
- Center for Advanced Studies of Brain and Consciousness, National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Humanities, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Veronika Langová
- Center for Advanced Studies of Brain and Consciousness, National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czech Republic
- Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Iryna Neskoroďana
- Center for Advanced Studies of Brain and Consciousness, National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czech Republic
| | - Ladislav Kesner
- Center for Advanced Studies of Brain and Consciousness, National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czech Republic
- Department of Art History, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Horáček
- Center for Advanced Studies of Brain and Consciousness, National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czech Republic
- Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
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Krug A, Eberhardt LV, Huckauf A. Transient attention does not alter the eccentricity effect in estimation of duration. Atten Percept Psychophys 2024; 86:392-403. [PMID: 37550478 PMCID: PMC10806013 DOI: 10.3758/s13414-023-02766-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023]
Abstract
Previous research investigating the influence of stimulus eccentricity on perceived duration showed an increasing duration underestimation with increasing eccentricity. Based on studies showing that precueing the stimulus location prolongs perceived duration, one might assume that this eccentricity effect is influenced by spatial attention. In the present study, we assessed the influence of transient covert attention on the eccentricity effect in duration estimation in two experiments, one online and one in a laboratory setting. In a duration estimation task, participants judged whether a comparison stimulus presented near or far from fixation with a varying duration was shorter or longer than a standard stimulus presented foveally with a constant duration. To manipulate transient covert attention, either a transient luminance cue was used (valid cue) to direct attention to the position of the subsequent peripheral comparison stimulus or all positions were marked by luminance (neutral cue). Results of both experiments yielded a greater underestimation of duration for the far than for the near stimulus, replicating the eccentricity effect. Although cueing was effective (i.e., shorter response latencies for validly cued stimuli), cueing did not alter the eccentricity effect on estimation of duration. This indicates that cueing leads to covert attentional shifts but does not account for the eccentricity effect in perceived duration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alina Krug
- Department of General Psychology, Institute of Psychology and Education, Ulm University, 89069, Ulm, Germany.
| | - Lisa Valentina Eberhardt
- Department of General Psychology, Institute of Psychology and Education, Ulm University, 89069, Ulm, Germany
| | - Anke Huckauf
- Department of General Psychology, Institute of Psychology and Education, Ulm University, 89069, Ulm, Germany
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Neitz J, Neitz M. Clarification on the understanding of contrast theory in relation to the article "ON and OFF receptive field processing in the presence of optical scattering": comment. BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS 2024; 15:789-792. [PMID: 38404354 PMCID: PMC10890850 DOI: 10.1364/boe.504315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
We are writing to address errors of misrepresentation in the article "ON and OFF receptive field processing in the presence of optical scattering" [Biomed. Opt. Express14, 2618 (2023)10.1364/BOE.489117]. In their investigation of predictions of "contrast theory" to explain the efficacy of diffusion optics technology (DOT), a myopia control lens design [Br. J. Ophthalmol.107, 1709 (2023)10.1136/bjo-2021-321005], Breher et al. incorrectly indicated that our contrast theory proposed that the association between cone opsin gene splicing defects and myopia was due to differential involvement in ON- and OFF-visual pathways. In addition, the Authors write that we have "hypothesized enhanced ON contrast sensitivity in myopes," but we predict the opposite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jay Neitz
- University of Washington, Department of Ophthalmology, 750 Republican St., Seattle, WA 98102, USA
| | - Maureen Neitz
- University of Washington, Department of Ophthalmology, 750 Republican St., Seattle, WA 98102, USA
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Sepehrisadr T, Atapour N, Baldicano AK, Rosa MGP, Grünert U, Martin PR. Transsynaptic Degeneration of Retinal Ganglion Cells Following Lesions to Primary Visual Cortex in Marmosets. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2024; 65:4. [PMID: 38306108 PMCID: PMC10851175 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.65.2.4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose A lesion to primary visual cortex (V1) in primates can produce retrograde transneuronal degeneration in the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) and retina. We investigated the effect of age at time of lesion on LGN volume and retinal ganglion cell (RGC) density in marmoset monkeys. Methods Retinas and LGNs were obtained about 2 years after a unilateral left-sided V1 lesion as infants (n = 7) or young adult (n = 1). Antibodies against RBPMS were used to label all RGCs, and antibodies against CaMKII or GABAA receptors were used to label nonmidget RGCs. Cell densities were compared in the left and right hemiretina of each eye. The LGNs were stained with the nuclear marker NeuN or for Nissl substance. Results In three animals lesioned within the first 2 postnatal weeks, the proportion of RGCs lost within 5 mm of the fovea was ∼twofold higher than after lesions at 4 or 6 weeks. There was negligible loss in the animal lesioned at 2 years of age. A positive correlation between RGC loss and LGN volume reduction was evident. No loss of CaMKII-positive or GABAA receptor-positive RGCs was apparent within 2 mm of the fovea in any of the retinas investigated. Conclusions Susceptibility of marmoset RGCs to transneuronal degeneration is high at birth and declines over the first 6 postnatal weeks. High survival rates of CaMKII and GABAA receptor-positive RGCs implies that widefield and parasol cells are less affected by neonatal cortical lesions than are midget-pathway cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanin Sepehrisadr
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, Save Sight Institute and Discipline of Clinical Ophthalmology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Nafiseh Atapour
- Neuroscience Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Physiology, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Alyssa K. Baldicano
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, Save Sight Institute and Discipline of Clinical Ophthalmology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Marcello G. P. Rosa
- Neuroscience Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Physiology, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Ulrike Grünert
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, Save Sight Institute and Discipline of Clinical Ophthalmology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Paul R. Martin
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, Save Sight Institute and Discipline of Clinical Ophthalmology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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Lubineau M, Watkins CP, Glasel H, Dehaene S. Does word flickering improve reading? Negative evidence from four experiments using low and high frequencies. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20231665. [PMID: 37788702 PMCID: PMC10547553 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.1665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Does word flickering facilitate reading? Despite a lack of scientific evidence, flickering glasses and lamps for dyslexia are being marketed in various countries. We conducted four experiments to assess their efficacy. Two experiments involved a computerized lexical decision task with constant display or low-frequency flickering (10 or 15 Hz). Among 375 regular adult readers, flicker noticeably slowed down word recognition, while slightly biasing the decision towards pseudowords. No significant effect was observed in 20 dyslexic children. In 22 dyslexic children, we also evaluated the impact of the Lexilight lamp and Lexilens glasses, which operate at higher frequencies, on reading fluency, letter identification and mirror letter processing. No detectable impact was observed. Lastly, in two participants who claimed to benefit from flickering glasses, we orthogonally manipulated whether the glasses were actually on, and whether the participant thought they were on. Only a small placebo effect was noted in one participant. Our findings starkly contrast with marketing claims that these tools can help 90% of dyslexics, and emphasize the role of rigorous scientific research in empowering dyslexic individuals to make informed decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Lubineau
- Cognitive Neuroimaging Unit, CEA DSV/I2BM, INSERM, Université Paris Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, NeuroSpin Center, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
- Collège de France, Paris, Île-de-France, France
- Reference centre for the neuropsychological evaluation of children (CERENE), Paris, France
| | - Cassandra Potier Watkins
- Cognitive Neuroimaging Unit, CEA DSV/I2BM, INSERM, Université Paris Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, NeuroSpin Center, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
- Collège de France, Paris, Île-de-France, France
| | - Hervé Glasel
- Reference centre for the neuropsychological evaluation of children (CERENE), Paris, France
| | - Stanislas Dehaene
- Cognitive Neuroimaging Unit, CEA DSV/I2BM, INSERM, Université Paris Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, NeuroSpin Center, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
- Collège de France, Paris, Île-de-France, France
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Ingvaldsen SH, Moljord K, Grøtting A, Omland PM, Dammann O, Austeng D, Morken TS. Retinal structure and visual pathway function at school age in children born extremely preterm: a population-based study. BMC Ophthalmol 2023; 23:296. [PMID: 37393251 DOI: 10.1186/s12886-023-03055-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Children born extremely preterm (gestational age < 28 weeks) show reduced visual function even without any cerebral or ophthalmological neonatal diagnosis. In this study, we aimed to assess the retinal structure with optical coherence tomography (OCT) and visual function with pattern-reversal visual evoked potentials (PR-VEPs) in a geographically defined population-based cohort of school-aged children born extremely preterm. Moreover, we aimed to explore the association between measures of retinal structure and visual pathway function in this cohort. METHODS All children born extremely preterm from 2006-2011 (n = 65) in Central Norway were invited to participate. Thirty-six children (55%) with a median age of 13 years (range = 10-16) were examined with OCT, OCT-angiography (OCT-A), and PR-VEPs. The foveal avascular zone (FAZ) and circularity, central macular vascular density, and flow were measured on OCT-A images. Central retinal thickness, circumpapillary retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) and inner plexiform ganglion cell layer (IPGCL) thickness were measured on OCT images. The N70-P100 peak-to-peak amplitude and N70 and P100 latencies were assessed from PR-VEPs. RESULTS Participants displayed abnormal retinal structure and P100 latencies (≥ 2 SD) compared to reference populations. Moreover, there was a negative correlation between P100 latency in large checks and RNFL (r = -.54, p = .003) and IPGCL (r = -.41, p = .003) thickness. The FAZ was smaller (p = .003), macular vascular density (p = .006) and flow were higher (p = .004), and RNFL (p = .006) and IPGCL (p = .014) were thinner in participants with ROP (n = 7). CONCLUSION Children born extremely preterm without preterm brain injury sequelae have signs of persistent immaturity of retinal vasculature and neuroretinal layers. Thinner neuroretinal layers are associated with delayed P100 latency, prompting further exploration of the visual pathway development in preterms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sigrid Hegna Ingvaldsen
- Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, NTNU Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
- Department of Ophthalmology, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway.
| | - Kyrre Moljord
- Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, NTNU Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Ophthalmology, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Arnstein Grøtting
- Department of Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Petter Moe Omland
- Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, NTNU Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Olaf Dammann
- Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, NTNU Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Dordi Austeng
- Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, NTNU Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Ophthalmology, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Tora Sund Morken
- Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, NTNU Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Ophthalmology, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
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Kristjánsson Á, Sigurdardottir HM. The Role of Visual Factors in Dyslexia. J Cogn 2023; 6:31. [PMID: 37397349 PMCID: PMC10312247 DOI: 10.5334/joc.287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
What are the causes of dyslexia? Decades of research reflect a determined search for a single cause where a common assumption is that dyslexia is a consequence of problems with converting phonological information into lexical codes. But reading is a highly complex activity requiring many well-functioning mechanisms, and several different visual problems have been documented in dyslexic readers. We critically review evidence from various sources for the role of visual factors in dyslexia, from magnocellular dysfunction through accounts based on abnormal eye movements and attentional processing, to recent proposals that problems with high-level vision contribute to dyslexia. We believe that the role of visual problems in dyslexia has been underestimated in the literature, to the detriment of the understanding and treatment of the disorder. We propose that rather than focusing on a single core cause, the role of visual factors in dyslexia fits well with risk and resilience models that assume that several variables interact throughout prenatal and postnatal development to either promote or hinder efficient reading.
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Affiliation(s)
- Árni Kristjánsson
- Icelandic Vision Lab, Department of Psychology, University of Iceland, IS
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11
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Poudel S, Rahimi-Nasrabadi H, Jin J, Najafian S, Alonso JM. Differences in visual stimulation between reading and walking and implications for myopia development. J Vis 2023; 23:3. [PMID: 37014657 PMCID: PMC10080958 DOI: 10.1167/jov.23.4.3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/11/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Visual input plays an important role in the development of myopia (nearsightedness), a visual disorder that blurs vision at far distances. The risk of myopia progression increases with the time spent reading and decreases with outdoor activity for reasons that remain poorly understood. To investigate the stimulus parameters driving this disorder, we compared the visual input to the retina of humans performing two tasks associated with different risks of myopia progression, reading and walking. Human subjects performed the two tasks while wearing glasses with cameras and sensors that recorded visual scenes and visuomotor activity. When compared with walking, reading black text in white background reduced spatiotemporal contrast in central vision and increased it in peripheral vision, leading to a pronounced reduction in the ratio of central/peripheral strength of visual stimulation. It also made the luminance distribution heavily skewed toward negative dark contrast in central vision and positive light contrast in peripheral vision, decreasing the central/peripheral stimulation ratio of ON visual pathways. It also decreased fixation distance, blink rate, pupil size, and head-eye coordination reflexes dominated by ON pathways. Taken together with previous work, these results support the hypothesis that reading drives myopia progression by understimulating ON visual pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabina Poudel
- Department of Biological and Visual Sciences, SUNY College of Optometry, New York, NY, USA
| | - Hamed Rahimi-Nasrabadi
- Department of Biological and Visual Sciences, SUNY College of Optometry, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jianzhong Jin
- Department of Biological and Visual Sciences, SUNY College of Optometry, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sohrab Najafian
- Department of Biological and Visual Sciences, SUNY College of Optometry, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jose-Manuel Alonso
- Department of Biological and Visual Sciences, SUNY College of Optometry, New York, NY, USA
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12
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Central retina plays a decisive role in the suppression of pupillary escape. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 2023; 261:1713-1722. [PMID: 36645454 DOI: 10.1007/s00417-022-05959-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2022] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To explore the pupil redilation during persistent light exposure (pupillary escape phenomenon) at the macula and periphery with monochromatic light stimuli. METHODS Forty healthy subjects aged 18-64 years (24 females) were examined by chromatic pupil campimetry (CPC) using red and blue 4-s stimuli of 10° radius at the center and 20°-peripheral locations one per quadrant. One glaucoma patient and one achromatopsia patient served as disease models. For statistical analyses, linear mixed-effects models were performed followed by post hoc t-tests. RESULTS A distinct pupillary escape could be demonstrated peripherally (blue 0.099%*s, red 0.153%*s); at the central healthy retina, there was no relevant escape, neither for blue nor red stimulation. Comparing central versus peripheral stimulation revealed highly significant differences in the escape (difference blue 0.100 ± 0.013, red 0.144 ± 0.013, < 0.0001, respectively). In the periphery, the escape was significantly more pronounced for red compared with blue stimulation (difference 0.054 ± 0.013; p = 0.0001). Enhanced pupillary escape outside of the 95% confidence interval of the linear mixed-effects model of the healthy population could be exemplarily shown in a patient with glaucomatous ganglion cell damage. In the achromatopsia example, no relevant escape was found for blue stimulation, but for red stimulation in the periphery in a comparable range to healthy controls. CONCLUSION The results emphasize that an intact inner retinal network of nerve fibers arising from the central macular region is necessary for maintaining pupillary constriction during a bright 4-s light stimulus and preventing increase of pupillary escape. Increasing receptive field sizes towards the periphery on the level of retinal ganglion cells and less input from central 1:1 connections could be one of the driving mechanisms for pupillary escape.
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13
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Contribution of parasol-magnocellular pathway ganglion cells to foveal retina in macaque monkey. Vision Res 2023; 202:108154. [PMID: 36436365 DOI: 10.1016/j.visres.2022.108154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Parasol-magnocellular pathway ganglion cells form an important output stream of the primate retina and make a major contribution to visual motion detection. They are known to comprise ON and OFF type response polarities but the relative numbers of ON and OFF parasol cells, and the overall contribution of parasol cells to high-acuity foveal vision are not well understood. Here we use antibodies against carbonic anhydrase 8 (CA8) and intracellular injections of the liphilic dye DiI to show that CA8 selectively labels OFF parasol cells in macaque retina. By combined labeling with CA8 antibodies and a previously-described marker for parasol cells (GABAA receptor antibodies), we show that ON and OFF parasol cells each comprise ∼ 6% of all ganglion cells in central retina (each peak density ∼ 3000 cells/mm2 at 5 deg.), and each population comprises ∼ 10% of all ganglion cells in peripheral temporal retina. Thus, the spatial density of parasol cells in central retina is greater than reported by previous anatomical studies, and the central-peripheral gradient in parasol cell density is shallower than previously reported. The data nevertheless predict decline in spatial acuity with visual field eccentricity for both midget-parvocellular pathway and parasol-magnocellular pathway mediated visual functions. The spatial resolving power of the OFF parasol array (peak ∼ 7 cpd) falls short of macaque behavioral grating acuity by at least a factor of three throughout the retina.
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14
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Cabral D, Ramtohul P, Zatreanu L, Galhoz D, Leitao M, Nogueira V, Sarraf D, Freund KB. Deep Capillary Plexus Features in Acute Macular Neuroretinopathy: Novel Insights Based on the Anatomy of Henle Fiber Layer. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2022; 63:4. [PMID: 36469026 PMCID: PMC9730735 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.63.13.4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to identify a precise location of deep capillary plexus (DCP) injury in acute macular neuroretinopathy (AMN) lesions using multimodal imaging. METHODS En face structural optical coherence tomography (OCT) images were manually segmented to delineate outer retinal AMN lesions involving the ellipsoid zone and interdigitation zone. AMN lesion centroid was calculated, and image distortion was applied to correct for Henle fiber layer (HFL) length and orientation. The resulting image was registered with the corresponding en face OCT angiography (OCTA) image segmented at the DCP and structural OCT volume before grading for vascular and structural features, respectively. RESULTS Thirty-nine AMN lesions from 16 eyes (11 female patients, mean age 34 ± 4 years) were analyzed. After correcting for HFL anatomy, in 62% of AMN lesions, the centroid co-localized with a capillary vortex (pattern 1); flow defects were detected in 33% of lesions (pattern 2); and in 5% of lesions no specific pattern could be identified (pattern 3). The detection of a specific pattern increased after correcting the projection of AMN lesion for HFL anatomy (28% vs. 5%, P = 0.04). Outer nuclear layer thickness was lower in the centroid area in 10 (29%) AMN lesions from 6 patients, all corresponding to lesions fitting pattern 2 (r = 0.78, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS AMN lesions might be a result of DCP impairment at the level of the capillary vortex or draining venule. In eyes with AMN, the location of outer retinal changes associated with DCP ischemia appears to be influenced by the length and orientation of HFL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diogo Cabral
- Vitreous Retina Macula Consultants of New York, New York, New York, United States,iNOVA4Health, NOVA Medical School, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Prithvi Ramtohul
- Vitreous Retina Macula Consultants of New York, New York, New York, United States
| | - Luca Zatreanu
- Rochester Regional Health, Rochester, New York, United States
| | - Daniel Galhoz
- iNOVA4Health, NOVA Medical School, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal,Instituto Superior Tecnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Miguel Leitao
- Instituto de Oftalmologia Dr. Gama Pinto, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Vanda Nogueira
- Instituto de Oftalmologia Dr. Gama Pinto, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - David Sarraf
- Retinal Disorders and Ophthalmic Genetics Division, Stein Eye Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States
| | - K. Bailey Freund
- Vitreous Retina Macula Consultants of New York, New York, New York, United States,Department of Ophthalmology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, United States
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15
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Zhang Y, Yang L, Gao Y, Zhang D, Tao Y, Xu H, Chen Y, Xu Y, Zhang M. Choroid and choriocapillaris changes in early-stage Parkinson’s disease: a swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography-based cross-sectional study. Alzheimers Res Ther 2022; 14:116. [PMID: 36008844 PMCID: PMC9404633 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-022-01054-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Background Parkinson’s disease (PD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases in the aging population. Previous literature has reported thinning of the retinal nerve fiber layer, ganglion cell layer, inner plexiform layer, and photoreceptor layer in PD patients. However, very few studies have used swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) to study the choroid and choriocapillaris vascular changes in PD and their correlations with altered contrast sensitivity. Methods PD patients and controls were enrolled in the current study. We used a CSV-1000E instrument to assess contrast sensitivity and performed SS-OCT and SS-OCTA to measure outer retinal thickness, choroidal thickness, choriocapillaris flow density, choroidal vascular volume (CVV), and choroidal vascular index (CVI). Results One hundred eyes of 52 PD patients and 200 eyes of 100 healthy controls were recruited in the present study. Our study found remarkably impaired contrast sensitivity in PD patients (all P < 0.05). Significant thinning of the outer retinal layer and the choroid was appreciated in the PD group compared with the healthy controls (all P < 0.05). Choriocapillaris flow density, CVI, and CVV were significantly decreased in PD patients compared with healthy controls (all P < 0.05). Contrast sensitivity was weakly associated with outer retina thickness in the 3 mm circular area, with 3 cycles per degree being the most relevant (r = 0.535, P < 0.001). Conclusion Our study indicates that there is a significant decrease in contrast sensitivity, outer retina thickness, choriocapillaris flow density, CVI, and CVV in PD patients. This research has also identified a positive correlation between outer retina thickness and contrast sensitivity. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13195-022-01054-z.
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16
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Lian L, Zhai Y, Wan X, Chen L, Liu Z, Liu R, Li S, Zhou J, Chen Y, Hou L, Li H. Sensitivity of the Dorsal-Central Retinal Pigment Epithelium to Sodium Iodate-Induced Damage Is Associated With Overlying M-Cone Photoreceptors in Mice. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2022; 63:29. [PMID: 36018572 PMCID: PMC9428360 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.63.9.29] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) degeneration is a leading cause of blindness in retinal degenerative diseases, but the mechanism of RPE regional degeneration remains largely unknown. This study aims to investigate the sensitivity of RPE to sodium iodate (SI) injury in the dorsal and ventral visual fields in mice and analyze whether overlaying cone photoreceptors regulate the sensitivity of RPE to SI-induced damage. Methods SI was used to induce RPE degeneration in mice. Hematoxylin-eosin staining, immunostaining, and TUNEL assay were used to evaluate retinal degeneration along the dorsal-ventral axis. Flat-mounted and sectional retinal immunostaining were used to analyze the distribution of cones along the dorsoventral axis in C57BL/6, albino, and 129 mice. Electroretinography was used to examine the retinal function. Results Dorsal-central RPE was more sensitive to SI-mediated injury along the dorsal-ventral axis in C57BL/6 mice. Compared with the ventral RPE, the dorsal-central RPE was dominantly covered by M cone photoreceptors in these mice. Interestingly, M cone photoreceptor degeneration was followed by dorsal RPE degeneration under a low dose of SI. Furthermore, the sensitivity of dorsal RPE to a low dose of SI was reduced in both albino and 129 mouse strains with dominant mixed cones instead of M cones in the dorsal visual field. Conclusions These findings suggest that dorsal-central RPE is more sensitive to SI injury and that SI-induced RPE degeneration could be controlled by modifying the dominant overlying cone population in the mouse dorsal retina, thereby highlighting a potential role of M cones in RPE regional degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lili Lian
- Laboratory of Developmental Cell Biology and Disease, School of Ophthalmology and Optometry and Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Yifan Zhai
- Laboratory of Developmental Cell Biology and Disease, School of Ophthalmology and Optometry and Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Xuejiao Wan
- Laboratory of Developmental Cell Biology and Disease, School of Ophthalmology and Optometry and Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Linxin Chen
- Laboratory of Developmental Cell Biology and Disease, School of Ophthalmology and Optometry and Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Zuimeng Liu
- Laboratory of Developmental Cell Biology and Disease, School of Ophthalmology and Optometry and Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Ruona Liu
- Laboratory of Developmental Cell Biology and Disease, School of Ophthalmology and Optometry and Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Shijia Li
- Laboratory of Developmental Cell Biology and Disease, School of Ophthalmology and Optometry and Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Jiajia Zhou
- Laboratory of Developmental Cell Biology and Disease, School of Ophthalmology and Optometry and Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Yu Chen
- Laboratory of Developmental Cell Biology and Disease, School of Ophthalmology and Optometry and Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Vision Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Ling Hou
- Laboratory of Developmental Cell Biology and Disease, School of Ophthalmology and Optometry and Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Vision Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Huirong Li
- Laboratory of Developmental Cell Biology and Disease, School of Ophthalmology and Optometry and Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Vision Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
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17
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Rezeanu D, Neitz M, Neitz J. How We See Black and White: The Role of Midget Ganglion Cells. Front Neuroanat 2022; 16:944762. [PMID: 35864822 PMCID: PMC9294633 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2022.944762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
According to classical opponent color theory, hue sensations are mediated by spectrally opponent neurons that are excited by some wavelengths of light and inhibited by others, while black-and-white sensations are mediated by spectrally non-opponent neurons that respond with the same sign to all wavelengths. However, careful consideration of the morphology and physiology of spectrally opponent L vs. M midget retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in the primate retina indicates that they are ideally suited to mediate black-and-white sensations and poorly suited to mediate color. Here we present a computational model that demonstrates how the cortex could use unsupervised learning to efficiently separate the signals from L vs. M midget RGCs into distinct signals for black and white based only correlation of activity over time. The model also reveals why it is unlikely that these same ganglion cells could simultaneously mediate our perception of red and green, and shows how, in theory, a separate small population of midget RGCs with input from S, M, and L cones would be ideally suited to mediating hue perception.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jay Neitz
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
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18
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Sharif NA. Degeneration of retina-brain components and connections in glaucoma: Disease causation and treatment options for eyesight preservation. CURRENT RESEARCH IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2022; 3:100037. [PMID: 36685768 PMCID: PMC9846481 DOI: 10.1016/j.crneur.2022.100037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Revised: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Eyesight is the most important of our sensory systems for optimal daily activities and overall survival. Patients who experience visual impairment due to elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) are often those afflicted with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) which slowly robs them of their vision unless treatment is administered soon after diagnosis. The hallmark features of POAG and other forms of glaucoma are damaged optic nerve, retinal ganglion cell (RGC) loss and atrophied RGC axons connecting to various brain regions associated with receipt of visual input from the eyes and eventual decoding and perception of images in the visual cortex. Even though increased IOP is the major risk factor for POAG, the disease is caused by many injurious chemicals and events that progress slowly within all components of the eye-brain visual axis. Lowering of IOP mitigates the damage to some extent with existing drugs, surgical and device implantation therapeutic interventions. However, since multifactorial degenerative processes occur during aging and with glaucomatous optic neuropathy, different forms of neuroprotective, nutraceutical and electroceutical regenerative and revitalizing agents and processes are being considered to combat these eye-brain disorders. These aspects form the basis of this short review article.
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Affiliation(s)
- Najam A. Sharif
- Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore,Singapore Eye Research Institute (SERI), Singapore,Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of North Texas Health Sciences Center, Fort Worth, Texas, USA,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Texas Southern University, Houston, TX, USA,Department of Surgery & Cancer, Imperial College of Science and Technology, St. Mary's Campus, London, UK,Department of Pharmacy Sciences, School of School of Pharmacy and Health Professions, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, USA,Ophthalmology Innovation Center, Santen Incorporated, 6401 Hollis Street (Suite #125), Emeryville, CA, 94608, USA,Ophthalmology Innovation Center, Santen Incorporated, 6401 Hollis Street (Suite #125), Emeryville, CA, 94608, USA.
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19
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Baldicano AK, Nasir-Ahmad S, Novelli M, Lee SCS, Do MTH, Martin PR, Grünert U. Retinal ganglion cells expressing CaM kinase II in human and nonhuman primates. J Comp Neurol 2022; 530:1470-1493. [PMID: 35029299 PMCID: PMC9010361 DOI: 10.1002/cne.25292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 12/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Immunoreactivity for calcium-/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) in the primate dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN) has been attributed to geniculocortical relay neurons and has also been suggested to arise from terminals of retinal ganglion cells. Here, we combined immunostaining with single-cell injections to investigate the expression of CaMKII in retinal ganglion cells of three primate species: macaque (Macaca fascicularis, M. nemestrina), human, and marmoset (Callithrix jacchus). We found that in all species, about 2%-10% of the total ganglion cell population expressed CaMKII. In all species, CaMKII was expressed by multiple types of wide-field ganglion cell including large sparse, giant sparse (melanopsin-expressing), broad thorny, and narrow thorny cells. Three other ganglion cells types, namely, inner and outer stratifying maze cells in macaque and tufted cells in marmoset were also found. Double labeling experiments showed that CaMKII-expressing cells included inner and outer stratifying melanopsin cells. Nearly all CaMKII-expressing ganglion cell types identified here are known to project to the koniocellular layers of the dLGN as well as to the superior colliculus. The best characterized koniocellular projecting cell type-the small bistratified (blue ON/yellow OFF) cell-was, however, not CaMKII-positive in any species. Our results indicate that the pattern of CaMKII expression in retinal ganglion cells is largely conserved across different species of primate suggesting a common functional role. But the results also show that CaMKII is not a marker for all koniocellular projecting retinal ganglion cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa K Baldicano
- Save Sight Institute and Discipline of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Subha Nasir-Ahmad
- Save Sight Institute and Discipline of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Integrative Brain Function, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2000, Australia
| | - Mario Novelli
- Save Sight Institute and Discipline of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Sammy C S Lee
- Save Sight Institute and Discipline of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Integrative Brain Function, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2000, Australia
| | - Michael Tri H Do
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center and Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Paul R Martin
- Save Sight Institute and Discipline of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Integrative Brain Function, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2000, Australia
| | - Ulrike Grünert
- Save Sight Institute and Discipline of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Integrative Brain Function, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2000, Australia
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20
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Tong J, Phu J, Alonso-Caneiro D, Khuu SK, Kalloniatis M. Prediction of Retinal Ganglion Cell Counts Considering Various Displacement Methods From OCT-Derived Ganglion Cell-Inner Plexiform Layer Thickness. Transl Vis Sci Technol 2022; 11:13. [PMID: 35575777 PMCID: PMC9123515 DOI: 10.1167/tvst.11.5.13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose To compare various displacement models using midget retinal ganglion cell to cone (mRGC:C) ratios and to determine viability of estimating RGC counts from optical coherence tomography (OCT)–derived ganglion cell–inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) measurements. Methods Four Drasdo model variations were applied to macular visual field (VF) stimulus locations: (1) using meridian-specific Henle fiber length along the stimulus circumference; (2) using meridian-specific differences in RGC receptive field and counts along the stimulus circumference; (3) per method (2), averaged across principal meridians; and (4) per method (3), with the stimulus center displaced only. The Sjöstrand model was applied (5) along the stimulus circumference and (6) to the stimulus center only. Eccentricity-dependent mRGC:C ratios were computed over displaced areas, with comparisons to previous models using sum of squares of the residuals (SSR) and root mean square error (RMSE). RGC counts estimated from OCT-derived ganglion cell layer (GCL) and GCIPL measurements, from 143 healthy participants, were compared using Bland–Altman analyses. Results Methods 1, 2, and 5 produced mRGC:C ratios most consistent with previous models (SSR 3.82, 4.07, and 3.02; RMSE 0.22, 0.23, and 0.20), while central mRGC:C ratios were overestimated by method 3 and underestimated by methods 4 and 6. RGC counts predicted from GCIPL measurements were within 16% of GCL-based counts, with no notable bias with increasing RGC counts. Conclusions Sjöstrand displacement and meridian-specific Drasdo displacement applied to VF stimulus circumferences produce mRGC:C ratios consistent with previous models. RGC counts can be estimated from OCT-derived GCIPL measurements. Translational Relevance Implementing appropriate displacement methods and deriving RGC estimates from relevant OCT parameters enables calculation of the number of RGCs responding to VF stimuli from commercial instrumentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janelle Tong
- Centre for Eye Health, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, NSW Australia.,School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW Australia
| | - Jack Phu
- Centre for Eye Health, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, NSW Australia.,School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW Australia
| | - David Alonso-Caneiro
- Queensland University of Technology, Contact Lens and Visual Optics Laboratory, Centre for Vision and Eye Research, School of Optometry and Vision Science, QLD, Australia
| | - Sieu K Khuu
- School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW Australia
| | - Michael Kalloniatis
- Centre for Eye Health, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, NSW Australia.,School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW Australia
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21
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Tong J, Phu J, Alonso-Caneiro D, Khuu SK, Kalloniatis M. Clinical Evaluations of Macular Structure-Function Concordance With and Without Drasdo Displacement. Transl Vis Sci Technol 2022; 11:18. [PMID: 35438719 PMCID: PMC9034708 DOI: 10.1167/tvst.11.4.18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose The purpose of this study was to compare concordance between ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) data from the Cirrus optical coherence tomographer (OCT) Ganglion Cell Analysis (GCA) and visual fields (VFs), with and without Drasdo displacement. Methods From 296 open-angle glaucoma participants, GCIPL deviation and raw thickness data were extracted over locations per the 10-2 VF test grid, with and without application of Drasdo displacement, with global and eccentricity-dependent sensitivities and specificities calculated for both. With OCT and VF data classified as within or outside normative limits, pattern deviation values were compared using paired t-tests and Spearman correlations. Regression models were applied to pattern deviation values as a function of GCIPL thickness, and differences in model performance with and without displacement were compared using extra sums-of-squares F tests. Results There were small but significant improvements in global specificity without displacement (0.58-0.59 with displacement and 0.61 without displacement), without notable differences in sensitivity (0.77-0.78 with displacement and 0.76-0.78 without displacement). At abnormal VF locations and without displacement, a higher proportion of correct OCT classifications (P = 0.0008) and significant correlation with worsening pattern deviation values were observed (r = 0.50, P = 0.002). Regression models indicated significantly steeper slopes with Drasdo displacement centrally (P = 0.002-0.04). Conclusions With GCA deviation maps, small improvements in structure-function concordance were observed without displacement, which are unlikely to be clinically meaningful. Using GCIPL thickness data, significantly better structure-function concordance was observed centrally with Drasdo displacement. Translational Relevance Applying Drasdo displacement on probability-based reports is unlikely to alter clinical impressions of structure-function concordance, but applying displacement with GCIPL thickness data may improve detection of structure-function concordance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janelle Tong
- Centre for Eye Health, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Jack Phu
- Centre for Eye Health, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - David Alonso-Caneiro
- Queensland University of Technology, Contact Lens and Visual Optics Laboratory, Centre for Vision and Eye Research, School of Optometry and Vision Science, Queensland, Australia
| | - Sieu K Khuu
- School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Michael Kalloniatis
- Centre for Eye Health, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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22
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Nasir-Ahmad S, Vanstone KA, Novelli M, Lee SCS, Do MTH, Martin PR, Grünert U. Satb1 expression in retinal ganglion cells of marmosets, macaques, and humans. J Comp Neurol 2022; 530:923-940. [PMID: 34622958 PMCID: PMC8831458 DOI: 10.1002/cne.25258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2021] [Revised: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Recent advances in single-cell RNA sequencing have enabled the molecular distinction of ganglion cell populations in mammalian retinas. Here we used antibodies against the transcription factor special AT-rich binding protein 1 (Satb1, a protein which is expressed by on-off direction-selective ganglion cells in mouse retina) to study Satb1 expression in the retina of marmosets (Callithrix jacchus), macaques (Macaca fascicularis), and humans. In all species, Satb1 was exclusively expressed in retinal ganglion cells. The Satb1 cells made up ∼2% of the ganglion cell population in the central retina of all species, rising to a maximum ∼7% in peripheral marmoset retina. Intracellular injections in marmoset and macaque retinas revealed that most Satb1 expressing ganglion cells are widefield ganglion cells. In marmoset, Satb1 cells have a densely branching dendritic tree and include broad and narrow thorny, recursive bistratified, and parasol cells, all of which show some costratification with the outer or inner cholinergic amacrine cells. The recursive bistratified cells showed the strongest costratification but did not show extensive cofasciculation as reported for on-off direction-selective ganglion cells in rabbit and rodent retinas. In macaque, Satb1 was not expressed in recursive bistratified cells, but in large sparsely branching cells. Our findings further support the idea that the expression of transcription factors in retinal ganglion cells is not conserved across Old World (human and macaque) and New World (marmoset) primates and provides a further step to link a molecular marker with specific cell types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subha Nasir-Ahmad
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, Save Sight Institute, and Discipline of Ophthalmology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Integrative Brain Function, Sydney Node, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Kurt A Vanstone
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, Save Sight Institute, and Discipline of Ophthalmology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Mario Novelli
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, Save Sight Institute, and Discipline of Ophthalmology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Sammy C S Lee
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, Save Sight Institute, and Discipline of Ophthalmology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Integrative Brain Function, Sydney Node, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Michael Tri H Do
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center and Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Paul R Martin
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, Save Sight Institute, and Discipline of Ophthalmology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Integrative Brain Function, Sydney Node, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Ulrike Grünert
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, Save Sight Institute, and Discipline of Ophthalmology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Integrative Brain Function, Sydney Node, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
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23
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Soto-Icaza P, Beffara-Bret B, Vargas L, Aboitiz F, Billeke P. Differences in cortical processing of facial emotions in broader autism phenotype. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0262004. [PMID: 35041646 PMCID: PMC8765621 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0262004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a heterogeneous condition that affects face perception. Evidence shows that there are differences in face perception associated with the processing of low spatial frequency (LSF) and high spatial frequency (HSF) of visual stimuli between non-symptomatic relatives of individuals with autism (broader autism phenotype, BAP) and typically developing individuals. However, the neural mechanisms involved in these differences are not fully understood. Here we tested whether face-sensitive event related potentials could serve as neuronal markers of differential spatial frequency processing, and whether these potentials could differentiate non-symptomatic parents of children with autism (pASD) from parents of typically developing children (pTD). To this end, we performed electroencephalographic recordings of both groups of parents while they had to recognize emotions of face pictures composed of the same or different emotions (happiness or anger) presented in different spatial frequencies. We found no significant differences in the accuracy between groups but lower amplitude modulation in the Late Positive Potential activity in pASD. Source analysis showed a difference in the right posterior part of the superior temporal region that correlated with ASD symptomatology of the child. These results reveal differences in brain processing of recognition of facial emotion in BAP that could be a precursor of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Soto-Icaza
- Laboratorio de Neurociencia Social y Neuromodulación, Centro de Investigación en Complejidad Social (neuroCICS), Facultad de Gobierno, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
| | | | | | - Francisco Aboitiz
- Laboratorio de Neurociencias Cognitivas, Departamento de Psiquiatría, Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencias, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Pablo Billeke
- Laboratorio de Neurociencia Social y Neuromodulación, Centro de Investigación en Complejidad Social (neuroCICS), Facultad de Gobierno, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
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24
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Kislinger L. Photographs of Actions: What Makes Them Special Cues to Social Perception. Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11111382. [PMID: 34827381 PMCID: PMC8615998 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11111382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Revised: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
I have reviewed studies on neural responses to pictured actions in the action observation network (AON) and the cognitive functions of these responses. Based on this review, I have analyzed the specific representational characteristics of action photographs. There has been consensus that AON responses provide viewers with knowledge of observed or pictured actions, but there has been controversy about the properties of this knowledge. Is this knowledge causally provided by AON activities or is it dependent on conceptual processing? What elements of actions does it refer to, and how generalized or specific is it? The answers to these questions have come from studies that used transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to stimulate motor or somatosensory cortices. In conjunction with electromyography (EMG), TMS allows researchers to examine changes of the excitability in the corticospinal tract and muscles of people viewing pictured actions. The timing of these changes and muscle specificity enable inferences to be drawn about the cognitive products of processing pictured actions in the AON. Based on a review of studies using TMS and other neuroscience methods, I have proposed a novel hypothetical account that describes the characteristics of action photographs that make them effective cues to social perception. This account includes predictions that can be tested experimentally.
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25
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Sharif NA. Therapeutic Drugs and Devices for Tackling Ocular Hypertension and Glaucoma, and Need for Neuroprotection and Cytoprotective Therapies. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:729249. [PMID: 34603044 PMCID: PMC8484316 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.729249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Damage to the optic nerve and the death of associated retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) by elevated intraocular pressure (IOP), also known as glaucoma, is responsible for visual impairment and blindness in millions of people worldwide. The ocular hypertension (OHT) and the deleterious mechanical forces it exerts at the back of the eye, at the level of the optic nerve head/optic disc and lamina cribosa, is the only modifiable risk factor associated with glaucoma that can be treated. The elevated IOP occurs due to the inability of accumulated aqueous humor (AQH) to egress from the anterior chamber of the eye due to occlusion of the major outflow pathway, the trabecular meshwork (TM) and Schlemm’s canal (SC). Several different classes of pharmaceutical agents, surgical techniques and implantable devices have been developed to lower and control IOP. First-line drugs to promote AQH outflow via the uveoscleral outflow pathway include FP-receptor prostaglandin (PG) agonists (e.g., latanoprost, travoprost and tafluprost) and a novel non-PG EP2-receptor agonist (omidenepag isopropyl, Eybelis®). TM/SC outflow enhancing drugs are also effective ocular hypotensive agents (e.g., rho kinase inhibitors like ripasudil and netarsudil; and latanoprostene bunod, a conjugate of a nitric oxide donor and latanoprost). One of the most effective anterior chamber AQH microshunt devices is the Preserflo® microshunt which can lower IOP down to 10–13 mmHg. Other IOP-lowering drugs and devices on the horizon will be also discussed. Additionally, since elevated IOP is only one of many risk factors for development of glaucomatous optic neuropathy, a treatise of the role of inflammatory neurodegeneration of the optic nerve and retinal ganglion cells and appropriate neuroprotective strategies to mitigate this disease will also be reviewed and discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Najam A Sharif
- Global Alliances and External Research, Ophthalmology Innovation Center, Santen Inc., Emeryville, CA, United States
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26
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Werth R. Is Developmental Dyslexia Due to a Visual and Not a Phonological Impairment? Brain Sci 2021; 11:1313. [PMID: 34679378 PMCID: PMC8534212 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11101313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Revised: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
It is a widely held belief that developmental dyslexia (DD) is a phonological disorder in which readers have difficulty associating graphemes with their corresponding phonemes. In contrast, the magnocellular theory of dyslexia assumes that DD is a visual disorder caused by dysfunctional magnocellular neural pathways. The review explores arguments for and against these theories. Recent results have shown that DD is caused by (1) a reduced ability to simultaneously recognize sequences of letters that make up words, (2) longer fixation times required to simultaneously recognize strings of letters, and (3) amplitudes of saccades that do not match the number of simultaneously recognized letters. It was shown that pseudowords that could not be recognized simultaneously were recognized almost without errors when the fixation time was extended. However, there is an individual maximum number of letters that each reader with DD can recognize simultaneously. Findings on the neurobiological basis of temporal summation have shown that a necessary prolongation of fixation times is due to impaired processing mechanisms of the visual system, presumably involving magnocells and parvocells. An area in the mid-fusiform gyrus also appears to play a significant role in the ability to simultaneously recognize words and pseudowords. The results also contradict the assumption that DD is due to a lack of eye movement control. The present research does not support the assumption that DD is caused by a phonological disorder but shows that DD is due to a visual processing dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reinhard Werth
- Institute for Social Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University of Munich, Haydnstrasse 5, D-80336 Munich, Germany
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27
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Grünert U, Martin PR. Morphology, Molecular Characterization, and Connections of Ganglion Cells in Primate Retina. Annu Rev Vis Sci 2021; 7:73-103. [PMID: 34524877 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-vision-100419-115801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The eye sends information about the visual world to the brain on over 20 parallel signal pathways, each specialized to signal features such as spectral reflection (color), edges, and motion of objects in the environment. Each pathway is formed by the axons of a separate type of retinal output neuron (retinal ganglion cell). In this review, we summarize what is known about the excitatory retinal inputs, brain targets, and gene expression patterns of ganglion cells in humans and nonhuman primates. We describe how most ganglion cell types receive their input from only one or two of the 11 types of cone bipolar cell and project selectively to only one or two target regions in the brain. We also highlight how genetic methods are providing tools to characterize ganglion cells and establish cross-species homologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulrike Grünert
- Save Sight Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia; , .,Sydney Node, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Integrative Brain Function, The University of Sydney, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
| | - Paul R Martin
- Save Sight Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia; , .,Sydney Node, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Integrative Brain Function, The University of Sydney, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
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28
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Kremkow J, Alonso JM. Functional specificity of afferent connections in visual thalamus. Neuron 2021; 109:2368-2370. [PMID: 34352211 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2021.06.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Cells in mouse visual thalamus receive inputs from both eyes. In this issue of Neuron, Bauer et al. (2021) demonstrate that, as in carnivores and primates, only one eye drives cell firing while inputs from the other eye remain functionally silent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jens Kremkow
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Neuroscience Research Center, Berlin, Germany
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29
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Masri RA, Weltzien F, Purushothuman S, Lee SCS, Martin PR, Grünert U. Composition of the Inner Nuclear Layer in Human Retina. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2021; 62:22. [PMID: 34259817 PMCID: PMC8288061 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.62.9.22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose The purpose of this study was to measure the composition of the inner nuclear layer (INL) in the central and peripheral human retina as foundation data for interpreting INL function and dysfunction. Methods Six postmortem human donor retinas (male and female, aged 31–56 years) were sectioned along the temporal horizontal meridian. Sections were processed with immunofluorescent markers and imaged using high-resolution, multichannel fluorescence microscopy. The density of horizontal, bipolar, amacrine, and Müller cells was quantified between 1 and 12 mm eccentricity with appropriate adjustments for postreceptoral spatial displacements near the fovea. Results Cone bipolar cells dominate the INL a with density near 50,000 cells/mm2 at 1 mm eccentricity and integrated total ∼10 million cells up to 10 mm eccentricity. Outside central retina the spatial density of all cell populations falls but the neuronal makeup of the INL remains relatively constant: a decrease in the proportion of cone bipolar cells (from 52% at 1 mm to 37% at 10 mm) is balanced by an increasing proportion of rod bipolar cells (from 9% to 15%). The proportion of Müller cells near the fovea (17%) is lower than in the peripheral retina (27%). Conclusions Despite large changes in the absolute density of INL cell populations across the retina, their proportions remain relatively constant. These data may have relevance for interpreting diagnostic signals such as the electroretinogram and optical coherence tomogram.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rania A Masri
- The University of Sydney, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Save Sight Institute and Discipline of Clinical Ophthalmology, Sydney, Australia.,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Integrative Brain Function, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Felix Weltzien
- The University of Sydney, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Save Sight Institute and Discipline of Clinical Ophthalmology, Sydney, Australia
| | - Sivaraman Purushothuman
- The University of Sydney, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Save Sight Institute and Discipline of Clinical Ophthalmology, Sydney, Australia
| | - Sammy C S Lee
- The University of Sydney, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Save Sight Institute and Discipline of Clinical Ophthalmology, Sydney, Australia.,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Integrative Brain Function, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Paul R Martin
- The University of Sydney, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Save Sight Institute and Discipline of Clinical Ophthalmology, Sydney, Australia.,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Integrative Brain Function, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Ulrike Grünert
- The University of Sydney, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Save Sight Institute and Discipline of Clinical Ophthalmology, Sydney, Australia.,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Integrative Brain Function, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
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30
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Parr T, Sajid N, Da Costa L, Mirza MB, Friston KJ. Generative Models for Active Vision. Front Neurorobot 2021; 15:651432. [PMID: 33927605 PMCID: PMC8076554 DOI: 10.3389/fnbot.2021.651432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The active visual system comprises the visual cortices, cerebral attention networks, and oculomotor system. While fascinating in its own right, it is also an important model for sensorimotor networks in general. A prominent approach to studying this system is active inference-which assumes the brain makes use of an internal (generative) model to predict proprioceptive and visual input. This approach treats action as ensuring sensations conform to predictions (i.e., by moving the eyes) and posits that visual percepts are the consequence of updating predictions to conform to sensations. Under active inference, the challenge is to identify the form of the generative model that makes these predictions-and thus directs behavior. In this paper, we provide an overview of the generative models that the brain must employ to engage in active vision. This means specifying the processes that explain retinal cell activity and proprioceptive information from oculomotor muscle fibers. In addition to the mechanics of the eyes and retina, these processes include our choices about where to move our eyes. These decisions rest upon beliefs about salient locations, or the potential for information gain and belief-updating. A key theme of this paper is the relationship between "looking" and "seeing" under the brain's implicit generative model of the visual world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Parr
- Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, United Kingdom
| | - Noor Sajid
- Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, United Kingdom
| | - Lancelot Da Costa
- Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Mathematics, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - M. Berk Mirza
- Department of Neuroimaging, Centre for Neuroimaging Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Karl J. Friston
- Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, United Kingdom
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31
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You M, Rong R, Zeng Z, Xia X, Ji D. Transneuronal Degeneration in the Brain During Glaucoma. Front Aging Neurosci 2021; 13:643685. [PMID: 33889083 PMCID: PMC8055862 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2021.643685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The death of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) is a key factor in the pathophysiology of all types of glaucoma, but the mechanism of pathogenesis of glaucoma remains unclear. RGCs are a group of central nervous system (CNS) neurons whose soma are in the inner retina. The axons of RGCs form the optic nerve and converge at the optic chiasma; from there, they project to the visual cortex via the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN). In recent years, there has been increasing interest in the dysfunction and death of CNS and retinal neurons caused by transneuronal degeneration of RGCs, and the view that glaucoma is a widespread neurodegenerative disease involving CNS damage appears more and more frequently in the literature. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of LGN and visual cortex neuron damage in glaucoma and possible mechanisms behind the damage. This review presents an updated and expanded view of neuronal damage in glaucoma, and reveals new and potential targets for neuroprotection and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengling You
- Department of Ophthalmology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Hunan Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Changsha, China
| | - Rong Rong
- Department of Ophthalmology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Hunan Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Changsha, China
| | - Zhou Zeng
- Department of Ophthalmology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Hunan Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Changsha, China
| | - Xiaobo Xia
- Department of Ophthalmology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Hunan Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Changsha, China
| | - Dan Ji
- Department of Ophthalmology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Hunan Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Changsha, China
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32
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Nasir-Ahmad S, Lee SCS, Martin PR, Grünert U. Identification of retinal ganglion cell types expressing the transcription factor Satb2 in three primate species. J Comp Neurol 2021; 529:2727-2749. [PMID: 33527361 DOI: 10.1002/cne.25120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Revised: 12/31/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
In primates, the retinal ganglion cells contributing to high acuity spatial vision (midget cells and parasol cells), and blue-yellow color vision (small bistratified cells) are well understood. Many other ganglion cell types with large dendritic fields (named wide-field ganglion cells) have been identified, but their spatial density and distribution are largely unknown. Here we took advantage of the recently established molecular diversity of ganglion cells to study wide-field ganglion cell populations in three primate species. We used antibodies against the transcription factor Special AT-rich binding protein 2 (Satb2) to explore its expression in macaque (Macaca fascicularis, M. nemestrina), human and marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) retinas. In all three species, Satb2 cells make up a low proportion (1.5-4%) of the ganglion cell population, with a slight increase from central to peripheral retina. Intracellular dye injections revealed that in macaque and human retinas, the large majority (over 80%) of Satb2 cells are inner and outer stratifying large sparse cells. By contrast, in marmoset retina the majority (over 60%) of Satb2 expressing cells were broad thorny cells, with smaller proportions of recursive bistratified (putative direction-selective), large bistratified, and outer stratifying narrow thorny cells. Our findings imply that Satb2 expression has undergone rapid species specific adaptations during primate evolution, because expression is not conserved across Old World (macaque, human) and New World (marmoset) suborders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subha Nasir-Ahmad
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, Save Sight Institute and Discipline of Ophthalmology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Integrative Brain Function, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Sammy C S Lee
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, Save Sight Institute and Discipline of Ophthalmology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Integrative Brain Function, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Paul R Martin
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, Save Sight Institute and Discipline of Ophthalmology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Integrative Brain Function, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Ulrike Grünert
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, Save Sight Institute and Discipline of Ophthalmology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Integrative Brain Function, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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33
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Stein J. Reduced Visual Magnocellular Event-Related Potentials in Developmental Dyslexia. Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11010048. [PMID: 33466235 PMCID: PMC7824745 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11010048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Revised: 12/27/2020] [Accepted: 12/31/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
(1) Background—the magnocellular hypothesis proposes that impaired development of the visual timing systems in the brain that are mediated by magnocellular (M-) neurons is a major cause of dyslexia. Their function can now be assessed quite easily by analysing averaged visually evoked event-related potentials (VERPs) in the electroencephalogram (EEG). Such analysis might provide a useful, objective biomarker for diagnosing developmental dyslexia. (2) Methods—in adult dyslexics and normally reading controls, we recorded steady state VERPs, and their frequency content was computed using the fast Fourier transform. The visual stimulus was a black and white checker board whose checks reversed contrast every 100 ms. M- cells respond to this stimulus mainly at 10 Hz, whereas parvocells (P-) do so at 5 Hz. Left and right visual hemifields were stimulated separately in some subjects to see if there were latency differences between the M- inputs to the right vs. left hemispheres, and these were compared with the subjects’ handedness. (3) Results—Controls demonstrated a larger 10 Hz than 5 Hz fundamental peak in the spectra, whereas the dyslexics showed the reverse pattern. The ratio of subjects’ 10/5 Hz amplitudes predicted their reading ability. The latency of the 10 Hz peak was shorter during left than during right hemifield stimulation, and shorter in controls than in dyslexics. The latter correlated weakly with their handedness. (4) Conclusion—Steady state visual ERPs may conveniently be used to identify developmental dyslexia. However, due to the limited numbers of subjects in each sub-study, these results need confirmation.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Stein
- Deptment Physiology, Anatomy & Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PT, UK
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34
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Kim US, Mahroo OA, Mollon JD, Yu-Wai-Man P. Retinal Ganglion Cells-Diversity of Cell Types and Clinical Relevance. Front Neurol 2021; 12:661938. [PMID: 34093409 PMCID: PMC8175861 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.661938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are the bridging neurons that connect the retinal input to the visual processing centres within the central nervous system. There is a remarkable diversity of RGCs and the various subtypes have unique morphological features, distinct functions, and characteristic pathways linking the inner retina to the relevant brain areas. A number of psychophysical and electrophysiological tests have been refined to investigate this large and varied population of RGCs. Technological advances, such as high-resolution optical coherence tomography imaging, have provided additional tools to define the pattern of RGC involvement and the chronological sequence of events in both inherited and acquired optic neuropathies. The mechanistic insights gained from these studies, in particular the selective vulnerability and relative resilience of particular RGC subtypes, are of fundamental importance as they are directly relevant to the development of targeted therapies for these invariably progressive blinding diseases. This review provides a comprehensive description of the various types of RGCs, the developments in proposed methods of classification, and the current gaps in our knowledge of how these RGCs are differentially affected depending on the underlying aetiology. The synthesis of the current body of knowledge on the diversity of RGCs and the pathways that are potentially amenable to therapeutic modulation will hopefully lead to much needed effective treatments for patients with optic neuropathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ungsoo Samuel Kim
- Kim's Eye Hospital, Seoul, South Korea
- John van Geest Centre for Brain Repair and MRC Mitochondrial Biology Unit, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Cambridge Eye Unit, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Ungsoo Samuel Kim
| | - Omar A. Mahroo
- Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
- Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- Section of Ophthalmology, King's College London, St. Thomas' Hospital Campus, London, United Kingdom
| | - John D. Mollon
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Patrick Yu-Wai-Man
- John van Geest Centre for Brain Repair and MRC Mitochondrial Biology Unit, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Cambridge Eye Unit, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
- Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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