Visual Deprivation

amblyopia

the inability to see clearly despite the eyes being intact and the retina being directly focused on an image

what occurs during a visual deprivation study

eyelids are sutured or frosted contact lenses are implanted to prevent any visual input to retinal; experiments revealed startling changes related to deprivation of the visual system early in development in animals

binocular deprivation

(depriving sight in both eyes) produces structural changes in visual cortical neurons

binocular deprivation class 1

cells that respond only to stimulation of the opposite eye

binocular deprivation class 2

cells that respond mainly to stimulation of the opposite eye

binocular deprivation class 4

cells that respond equally to either eye

binocular deprivation class 7+

cell that respond only to stimulation of the eye on the same side

hebbian synapses

an increase in synaptic efficacy arises from a presynaptic cell's repeated and persistent stimulation of a postsynaptic cell

anterograde (Wallerian) neurodegeneration

the progressive breakdown of an axon distal to a site of injury, moving away from the cell body toward the synapse

retrograde neurodegeneration

neuronal damage causes deterioration to spread from the axon or synapse toward the cell body