Past Events

Yang Sun, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor of Ophthalmology
Stanford University

Outcome of Workshop:  This workshop revealed multiple mechanisms of NeuroPlasticity, moving well beyond the classic phenomena of long term potentiation and depression (LTP/LTD). Seventeen expert participants reported on studies ranging from retinal to cortical, and from molecular to behavioral. Eight principles were identified:

• Neuroplasticity is driven by biological mechanisms that work to restore the local circuit balance of excitation and inhibition (E/I balance).
• Sensory deprivation acts as a perturbation to the E/I balance.
• Homeostatic processes work toward maintenance of function and they decline with age.
• Non-neuronal cells and gap junctions contribute to and provide structural and molecular support for change.
• Representational shifts occur via polysynaptic reweighting and involve neuronal ensembles.
• Redundancy and reciprocity are hallmarks of resilience and agents for change.
• Polysynaptic reweighting may occur within subcortical structures, and in thalamocortical or corticocortical projections, with the later exhibiting the most obvious adult plasticity.
• Calculated sensory degradation stimuli may encourage neuroplasticity by taking advantage of biological reweighting algorithms.

Read the full analysis in the Visual NeuroPlasticity Workshop Report

**THIS SEMINAR IS CANCELLED**

Robert Fariss, PhD
Chief of the Biological Imaging Core Facility
National Eye Institute
Advanced imaging techniques reveal insights into retinal ultrastructure and pathology

4-5pm

Hybrid event (in-person and online)

Edward Pugh, Ph.D.
Distinguished Professor, Cell Biology and Human Anatomy
University of California, Davis

Hybrid event (in-person and online)

Radha Ayyagari, Ph.D.
Professor of Ophthalmology and Pathology
University of California, San Diego