Rapid reorganization of cortical maps in adult cats following restricted deafferentation in retina

Abstract

The retinotopic map in the visual cortex of adult mammals can reorganize in response to a small injury in a restricted region of retina. Although the mechanisms underlying this neural plasticity in adults are not well understood, it is possible that rapid, adaptive alterations in the effectiveness of existing connections play a key role in the reorganization of cortical topography following peripheral deafferentation. In order to test this hypothesis, a small retinal lesion was made in one eye of adult cats and the visual cortex was mapped before and immediately after enucleating the non-lesioned eye. We found that substantial reorganization takes place within hours of enucleation.