IAS Seminar "Predicting and modifying plasticity and vision restoration in blindness"

Loss of vision (blindness) after stroke or brain trauma, optic nerve lesions, or glaucoma is thought to be irreversible and it is thought to be the consequence of the primary tissue loss. Little is known, however, how the damage affects interactions in widely distributed brain networks and how this, in turn, contributes to vision loss and if there is any potential for vision restoration long after the damage has occurred. We studied neuroplasticity as a possible mechanism to achieve vision restoration using vision training and non-invasive brain current stimulation. Both can improve vision significantly, reversing some of the partial blindness.

To learn more about the mechanisms of action different techniques were used.
(i) In animal studies we observed that residual, surviving fibers are able to increase their activation state. Clinical studies confirm the activation potential of residual structures: (ii) the topography of clinical visual field charts allow us to calculate predictors of vision restoration which support the notion that vision restoration depends on residual activities and activities in their immediate surround, and (iii) analyzing functional connectivity in the brain of partially blind subjects showed
that not only local plasticity plays a role in vision restoration but also global longrange neuronal network coherence and synchronization. From such studies we conclude that vision loss in the blind is not only caused by primary tissue damage but also by a synchronization breakdown of short- and long-range connections in brain networks. Because re-synchronization of alpha band coherence is associated with visual field improvements, brain connectivity is a key component in restoration of vision in partial blindness.

Anyone interested is cordially invited to participate in this seminar.

Prof. Sabel has been invited by Dr. Markus Butz-Ostendorf from the Simulation Lab Neuroscience, JSC.