Critical-period plasticity in the visual cortex
Abstract
In many regions of the developing brain, neuronal circuits undergo defined phases of enhanced plasticity, termed critical periods. Work in the rodent visual cortex has led to important insights into the cellular and molecular mechanisms regulating the timing of the critical period. Although there is little doubt that the maturation of specific inhibitory circuits plays a key role in the opening of the critical period in the visual cortex, it is less clear what puts an end to it. In this review, we describe the established mechanisms and point out where more experimental work is needed. We also show that plasticity in the visual cortex is present well before, and long after, the peak of the critical period.
References
Plasticity of geniculocortical afferents following brief or prolonged monocular occlusion in the cat
A semi-persistent adult ocular dominance plasticity in visual cortex is stabilized by activated CREB
Dendritic spine dynamics are regulated by monocular deprivation and extracellular matrix degradation
Antagonistic interaction between IGF and Wnt/JNK signaling in convergent extension in Xenopus embryo
Homeostatic regulation of eye-specific responses in visual cortex during ocular dominance plasticity
Citations
Sight restoration after congenital blindness does not reinstate alpha oscillatory activity in humans
Parvalbumin-expressing basket-cell network plasticity induced by experience regulates adult learning
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