Early visual motion experience shapes the gap junction connections among direction selective ganglion cells.

ABSTRACT: Gap junction connections between neurons play critical roles in the development of the nervous system. However, studies on the sensory experience-driven plasticity during the critical period rarely examine the involvement of gap junction connections. ON-OFF direction selective ganglion cells (ooDSGCs) in the mouse retina that prefer upward motion are connected by gap junctions throughout development. Here, we show that after exposing the mice to a visual environment dominated by upward motion from eye-opening to puberty, ooDSGCs that respond preferentially to upward motion show enhanced spike synchronization, while downward motion training has the opposite effect. The effect is long-term, persisting at least three months after the training. Correlated activity during training is tightly li

SUBMITTER: Zhang L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7135332 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature