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Muacevic A, Adler JR, Pappaterra-Rodriguez M, Ayala Rodríguez SC, Puebla G, Nieves I, Oliver AL. Aflibercept as a Treatment for Secondary Central Serous Chorioretinopathy in a Patient With Myasthenia Gravis. Cureus 2022; 14:e31287. [PMID: 36514621 PMCID: PMC9733583 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.31287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
We report on a case of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) secondary to chronic steroid use that showed sustained improvement when treated with an aflibercept intravitreal injection. A 44-year-old woman presented with decreased visual acuity of the left eye (OS). The patient had a recent history of myasthenia gravis and was being treated with systemic corticosteroids and immunosuppressants. At presentation, her visual acuity was 20/80 OS; an examination (using fluorescein angiography) of the left fundus revealed a serous retinal detachment of the posterior pole that extended to the mid-periphery and multiple areas of leakage, which findings were consistent with CSCR. The patient also had a history of unresolved strabismic amblyopia in her right eye. The patient's CSCR was managed with one injection of intravitreal aflibercept (2 mg/0.05 mL). One month following treatment, her visual acuity improved to 20/20 OS, and the serous retinal detachment had resolved. Ten months following treatment, an examination revealed a sustained improvement, with a visual acuity of 20/20 OS. Concomitantly, the patient's amblyopic eye revealed an improved visual acuity of 20/20. Our case suggests that some cases of secondary CSCR may respond to treatment with intravitreal aflibercept. This case also suggests that the CSCR imposed a unique form of occlusion therapy that helped improve the amblyopia of the contralateral eye in this adult patient.
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A Social Media Listening Study to Understand the Unmet Needs and Quality of Life in Adult and Pediatric Amblyopia Patients. Ophthalmol Ther 2022; 11:2183-2196. [PMID: 36175822 DOI: 10.1007/s40123-022-00571-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 10/14/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Amblyopia is an important cause of monocular vision impairment worldwide, and it negatively impacts patients' quality of life (QoL). Understanding patients' perspectives may help to optimize treatment outcomes and improve treatment adherence. METHODS This was a non-interventional, retrospective analysis of social media data available in the public domain posted by patients and caregivers on selected social media channels (Twitter®, forums, blogs, and news) from 12 countries between July 2018 and June 2020. RESULTS Approximately 2662 conversations relevant to the research objective were analyzed. The patient journey for adults and children was constructed based on the conversations. Eyeglasses, eye patches, contact lenses, and vision exercises were the common treatment options for amblyopia. Patients also reported vision improvement with emerging technologies such as digital therapeutics. Amblyopia and its treatment had a negative impact on QoL, and increased caregiver burden. Insurance coverage, long appointment waiting times, and recurring expenses of treatment options were reported as barriers to treatment. Non-compliance, switching between treatment options or technology, or discontinuation of treatment options was found to emanate from various issues including no improvement of the condition, discomfort with the treatment option, bullying, dissatisfaction with healthcare professional (HCP) recommendation, cost of treatment/issues with insurance coverage, side effects, and/or other unspecified reasons. The need for regular eye examinations, better diagnostic tests, awareness of the disease, awareness amongst HCPs about treatment options, and the need for better health insurance coverage policies emerged as unmet needs. CONCLUSION This social media listening study generated insights on patients with amblyopia and their caregivers regarding the patient journey, treatment options, reasons for non-compliance, reasons for switching HCPs, barriers to treatment, and unmet needs. Further qualitative research is required to validate the findings.
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Consorti A, Sansevero G, Torelli C, Di Marco I, Berardi N, Sale A. Visual Perceptual Learning Induces Long-Lasting Recovery of Visual Acuity, Visual Depth Perception Abilities and Binocular Matching in Adult Amblyopic Rats. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:840708. [PMID: 35558878 PMCID: PMC9086832 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.840708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
An abnormal visual experience early in life, caused by strabismus, unequal refractive power of the eyes, or eye occlusion, is a major cause of amblyopia (lazy eye), a highly diffused neurodevelopmental disorder severely affecting visual acuity and stereopsis abilities. Current treatments for amblyopia, based on a penalization of the fellow eye, are only effective when applied during the juvenile critical period of primary visual cortex plasticity, resulting mostly ineffective at older ages. Here, we developed a new paradigm of operant visual perceptual learning performed under conditions of conventional (binocular) vision in adult amblyopic rats. We report that visual perceptual learning induced a marked and long-lasting recovery of visual acuity, visual depth perception abilities and binocular matching of orientation preference, and we provide a link between the last two parameters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan Consorti
- Department of NEUROFARBA, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | | | - Claudia Torelli
- Department of NEUROFARBA, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Irene Di Marco
- Department of NEUROFARBA, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Berardi
- Department of NEUROFARBA, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council (CNR), Pisa, Italy
| | - Alessandro Sale
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council (CNR), Pisa, Italy
- *Correspondence: Alessandro Sale,
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Lee YJ, Yoo YJ, Han SB. Outcomes after Cataract Surgery in High Myopes with Axial Length Differences of ≥2 mm. JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN OPHTHALMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 2021. [DOI: 10.3341/jkos.2021.62.8.1036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Purpose: To evaluate the visual outcome after cataract operations in high myopia patients, whose axial length differences are longer than 2 mm.Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on patients who had received phacoemulsification cataract surgery from January 2014 to June 2020. The patients whose axial lengths and inter-eye axial lengths exceeded 26 and 2 mm, respectively, were selected. Demographic data, axial lengths, central subfield macular thickness, retinal nerve fiber layer, and best-corrected visual acuities (BCVAs) before and at 6 months postoperatively were collected. The factors related to visual outcome were analyzed using univariate, multivariate linear regression.Results: Twelve patients had an inter-eye axial length difference longer than 2 mm. The average axial lengths of longer and shorter eyes were 29.17 ± 1.94 and 26.66 ± 2.51 mm, respectively (p = 0.02, Mann-Whitney U-test). The BCVAs (logarithm of minimal angle of resolution, logMAR) of the longer and shorter eyes before the surgery were 1.09 ± 0.62 and 0.19 ± 0.16, respectively (p = 0.03, Mann-Whitney U-test). The BCVAs (logMAR) of the longer and shorter eyes 6 months after surgery were 0.19 ± 0.16 and 0.08 ± 0.10, respectively (p = 0.11, Mann-Whitney U-test). In univariate linear regression analysis, the BCVAs 6 months after the surgery showed better preoperative BCVAs (p < 0.001) and a thinner central subfield macular thickness (p = 0.001). In multivariate linear regression analysis, the BCVA at 6 months after the surgery showed significant improvement compared with preoperative BCVA values (p < 0.001).Conclusions: High myopia patients whose axial length differences exceeded 2 mm showed improved VA after cataract surgery.
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Abstract
Amblyopia is a neurodevelopmental disorder of the visual cortex arising from abnormal visual experience early in life which is a major cause of impaired vision in infants and young children (prevalence around 3.5%). Current treatments such as eye patching are ineffective in a large number of patients, especially when applied after the juvenile critical period. Physical exercise has been recently shown to enhance adult visual cortical plasticity and to promote visual acuity recovery. With the aim to understand the potentialities for translational applications, we investigated the effects of voluntary physical activity on recovery of depth perception in adult amblyopic rats with unrestricted binocular vision; visual acuity recovery was also assessed. We report that three weeks of voluntary physical activity (free running) induced a marked and long-lasting recovery of both depth perception and visual acuity. In the primary visual cortex, ocular dominance recovered both for excitatory and inhibitory cells and was linked to activation of a specific intracortical GABAergic circuit.
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Milla M, Piñero DP. Characterization, passive and active treatment in strabismic amblyopia: a narrative review. Int J Ophthalmol 2020; 13:1132-1147. [PMID: 32685403 PMCID: PMC7321947 DOI: 10.18240/ijo.2020.07.18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2019] [Accepted: 03/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Strabismic amblyopia is characterized by a distorted spatial perception. In this condition, the neurofunctional disorder occurring during first years of life provoke several monocular and binocular anomalies such as crowding, deficits in the accommodative response, contrast sensitivity, and ocular motility abilities. The inhibition of the binocular function of the brain by the misaligned amblyopic eye induces a binocular imbalance leading to interocular suppression and the reduction or lack of stereoacuity. Passive treatments such as occlusion, optical and/or pharmacological penalization, and Bangerter foils has been demonstrated to be potentially useful treatments for strabismic amblyopia. Recent researches have proved new pharmacological options to improve and maintain visual acuity after occlusion treatment in strabismic amblyopia. Likewise, the active vision therapy, in the last years, is becoming a very relevant therapeutic option in combination with passive treatments, especially during and after monocular therapy, in the attempt of recovering the imbalanced binocular vision.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myriam Milla
- Department of Optometry, OFTALVIST Alicante, Alicante 03016, Spain
- Group of Optics and Visual Perception, Department of Optics, Pharmacology and Anatomy, University of Alicante, San Vicente del Raspeig, Alicante 03690, Spain
| | - David P. Piñero
- Group of Optics and Visual Perception, Department of Optics, Pharmacology and Anatomy, University of Alicante, San Vicente del Raspeig, Alicante 03690, Spain
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Xin KZ, Prescott CR. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors may lead to improved cataract surgery outcomes in patients with amblyopia. Clin Ophthalmol 2019; 13:1517-1522. [PMID: 31496643 PMCID: PMC6691949 DOI: 10.2147/opth.s213289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2019] [Accepted: 07/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose To evaluate the effects of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI)/serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) medications in combination with cataract surgery in treating amblyopia in adult patients. Patients and methods A retrospective chart review study was conducted on patients who had undergone cataract surgery at the Johns Hopkins Hospital Wilmer Eye Institute. Six inclusion criteria were used to assess patient eligibility: 1) >18 years of age, 2) diagnosis of amblyopia, 3) diagnosis of cataract and treatment with surgery, 4) electronic medical record contains pre-surgery and post-surgery visual acuity (VA) measurements, 5) electronic medical record contains information on whether the patient was ever prescribed a SSRI/SNRI and the treatment duration, and 6) interocular VA difference of two lines or more on Snellen chart prior to cataract surgery. From each record, preoperative VA, postoperative VA, date of surgery, date at which postoperative VA was measured, and age at surgery were collected. Results A total of 237 patients were included, with 38 of them being on SSRI/SNRI. The mean improvement in VA after surgery was not significantly greater in patients on SSRI/SNRI (SSRI/SNRI: −0.276 logMAR, control: −0.192 logMAR, p=0.15). Multivariable regression was subsequently performed and while holding all other variables constant, demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in VA in patients on SSRI/SNRI (95% CI: −0.194, −0.0116, p=0.03). The regression analysis further demonstrated that advanced age has an adverse effect on the change in post-op VA (CI: 3.34×10−3 logMAR, 9.77×10−3 logMAR, p<0.005). Worse baseline VA is associated with a greater improvement in post-op VA (95% CI: −0.659 logMAR, −0.463 logMAR, p<0.005) but adverse effect on the absolute post-op VA (95% CI: 0.341 logMAR, 0.544 logMAR, p<0.005). Conclusion This study suggests that patients with amblyopia undergoing cataract surgery may potentially have a greater visual improvement when treated with SSRI/SNRIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Z Xin
- Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Christina R Prescott
- Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Emerging Roles of Synapse Organizers in the Regulation of Critical Periods. Neural Plast 2019; 2019:1538137. [PMID: 31565044 PMCID: PMC6745111 DOI: 10.1155/2019/1538137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2019] [Revised: 07/09/2019] [Accepted: 07/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Experience remodels cortical connectivity during developmental windows called critical periods. Experience-dependent regulation of synaptic strength during these periods establishes circuit functions that are stabilized as critical period plasticity wanes. These processes have been extensively studied in the developing visual cortex, where critical period opening and closure are orchestrated by the assembly, maturation, and strengthening of distinct synapse types. The synaptic specificity of these processes points towards the involvement of distinct molecular pathways. Attractive candidates are pre- and postsynaptic transmembrane proteins that form adhesive complexes across the synaptic cleft. These synapse-organizing proteins control synapse development and maintenance and modulate structural and functional properties of synapses. Recent evidence suggests that they have pivotal roles in the onset and closure of the critical period for vision. In this review, we describe roles of synapse-organizing adhesion molecules in the regulation of visual critical period plasticity and we discuss the potential they offer to restore circuit functions in amblyopia and other neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Trujillo-Gonzalez I, Friday WB, Munson CA, Bachleda A, Weiss ER, Alam NM, Sha W, Zeisel SH, Surzenko N. Low availability of choline in utero disrupts development and function of the retina. FASEB J 2019; 33:9194-9209. [PMID: 31091977 PMCID: PMC6662989 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201900444r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2019] [Accepted: 04/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Adequate supply of choline, an essential nutrient, is necessary to support proper brain development. Whether prenatal choline availability plays a role in development of the visual system is currently unknown. In this study, we addressed the role of in utero choline supply for the development and later function of the retina in a mouse model. We lowered choline availability in the maternal diet during pregnancy and assessed proliferative and differentiation properties of retinal progenitor cells (RPCs) in the developing prenatal retina, as well as visual function in adult offspring. We report that low choline availability during retinogenesis leads to persistent retinal cytoarchitectural defects, ranging from focal lesions with displacement of retinal neurons into subretinal space to severe hypocellularity and ultrastructural defects in photoreceptor organization. We further show that low choline availability impairs timely differentiation of retinal neuronal cells, such that the densities of early-born retinal ganglion cells, amacrine and horizontal cells, as well as cone photoreceptor precursors, are reduced in low choline embryonic d 17.5 retinas. Maintenance of higher proportions of RPCs that fail to exit the cell cycle underlies aberrant neuronal differentiation in low choline embryos. Increased RPC cell cycle length, and associated reduction in neurofibromin 2/Merlin protein, an upstream regulator of the Hippo signaling pathway, at least in part, explain aberrant neurogenesis in low choline retinas. Furthermore, we find that animals exposed to low choline diet in utero exhibit a significant degree of intraindividual variation in vision, characterized by marked functional discrepancy between the 2 eyes in individual animals. Together, our findings demonstrate, for the first time, that choline availability plays an essential role in the regulation of temporal progression of retinogenesis and provide evidence for the importance of adequate supply of choline for proper development of the visual system.-Trujillo-Gonzalez, I., Friday, W. B., Munson, C. A., Bachleda, A., Weiss, E. R., Alam, N. M., Sha, W., Zeisel, S. H., Surzenko, N. Low availability of choline in utero disrupts development and function of the retina.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isis Trujillo-Gonzalez
- Nutrition Research Institute, University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill, Kannapolis, North Carolina, USA
| | - Walter B. Friday
- Nutrition Research Institute, University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill, Kannapolis, North Carolina, USA
| | - Carolyn A. Munson
- Nutrition Research Institute, University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill, Kannapolis, North Carolina, USA
| | - Amelia Bachleda
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Ellen R. Weiss
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Nazia M. Alam
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA
- Center for Visual Restoration, Burke Neurological Institute, White Plains, New York, USA
| | - Wei Sha
- Bioinformatics Services Division, University of North Carolina–Charlotte, Kannapolis, North Carolina, USA
| | - Steven H. Zeisel
- Nutrition Research Institute, University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill, Kannapolis, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Natalia Surzenko
- Nutrition Research Institute, University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill, Kannapolis, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
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Vagge A, Shields CL, Shields JA, Pointdujour-Lim R, Schnall B. Visual improvement in amblyopic eye following treatment-induced vision loss in dominant eye with uveal melanoma. Br J Ophthalmol 2019; 104:202-207. [PMID: 31097438 DOI: 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2018-313505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2019] [Revised: 04/11/2019] [Accepted: 04/13/2019] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine the frequency and amount of visual improvement in amblyopic eyes of adults following visual loss in the dominant eye resulting from treatment of uveal melanoma. METHODS AND ANALYSIS Retrospective case series of adult patients with amblyopia and dominant eye visual loss resulting from treatment of uveal melanoma. Review of best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in each eye (amblyopia eye vs melanoma eye) at date first seen and over time following treatment of uveal melanoma. BCVA in each eye was graded as improved (>2 logarithm of minimal angle of resolution (logMAR) lines) or unimproved (<2 logMAR lines). RESULTS Twenty-one patients that met the inclusion criteria. Mean age at presentation was 56 years (range 39-73 years). Following treatment of the uveal melanoma and decline of BCVA in the dominant, the BCVA in the amblyopic eye improved in 11/21 (52%; 95% CI 30% to 74 %) patients. The degree of visual loss in the melanoma eye was to the level of the amblyopic eye or worse in 14 patients. In this group, BCVA improved in the amblyopic eye in 9/14 (64%; 95% CI 35% to 87 %) patients. Of these nine with improved eyes, the mean starting visual acuity was logMAR 0.6 (20/80) with mean improvement of logMAR 0.4 (4 lines±0.13 (range 0.2-0.6). Eight of nine eyes achieved a BCVA of 20/25 (n=3) or 20/20 (n=5). CONCLUSION Visual acuity in the amblyopic eye of adults can improve following visual loss in the contralateral dominant eye associated with treatment for uveal melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aldo Vagge
- Pediatric Ophthalmology and Ocular Genetics, Wills Eye Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA .,Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DiNOGMI), University Eye Clinic, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy
| | - Carol L Shields
- Ocular Oncology Service, Wills Eye Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Jerry A Shields
- Ocular Oncology Service, Wills Eye Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | - Bruce Schnall
- Pediatric Ophthalmology and Ocular Genetics, Wills Eye Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.,Advocare Schnall Pediatric Ophthalmology, Voorhees, New Jersey, USA
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Castaño-Castaño S, Feijoo-Cuaresma M, Paredes-Pacheco J, Morales-Navas M, Ruiz-Guijarro JA, Sanchez-Santed F, Nieto-Escámez F. tDCS recovers depth perception in adult amblyopic rats and reorganizes visual cortex activity. Behav Brain Res 2019; 370:111941. [PMID: 31078617 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2019.111941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2019] [Revised: 05/07/2019] [Accepted: 05/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Amblyopia or lazy eye is a neurodevelopmental disorder that arises during the infancy and is caused by the interruption of binocular sensory activity before maturation of the nervous system. This impairment causes long-term deterioration of visual skills, particularly visual acuity and depth perception. Although visual function recovery has been supposed to be decreased with age as consequence of reduced neuronal plasticity, recent studies have shown that it is possible to promote plasticity and neurorestoration in the adult brain. Thus, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been shown effective to treat amblyopia in the adulthood. In the present work we used postnatal monocular deprivation in Long Evans rats as an experimental model of amblyopia and the cliff test task to assess depth perception. Functional brain imaging PET was used to assess the effect of tDCS on cortical and subcortical activity. Visually deprived animals ability to perceive depth in the cliff test was significantly reduced in comparison to their controls. However, after 8 sessions of tDCS applied through 8 consecutive days, depth perception of amblyopic treated animals improved reaching control level. PET data showed 18F-FDG uptake asymmetries in the visual cortex of amblyopic animals, which disappeared after tDCS treatment. The possibility of cortical reorganization and stereoscopy recovery following brain stimulation points at tDCS as a useful strategy for treating amblyopia in adulthood. Furthermore, monocular deprivation in Long Evans rats is a valuable research model to study visual cortex mechanisms involved in depth perception and neural restoration after brain stimulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Castaño-Castaño
- Universidad de Almeria, Departamento de Psicología, Ctra. Sacramento S/N, 04120, La Cañada, Almería, Spain; Achucarro, Basque center for neuroscience. Science Park, edificio de la Sede UPV / EHU 48940, Leioa, Spain; NeuroDigital Technologies S.L., Prol. Camino de la Goleta 2, Edf. Celulosa I, 04007, Almería, Spain; Universidad Europea del Atlántico, Calle Isabel Torres, 21, 39011 Santander, Cantabria, Spain.
| | - M Feijoo-Cuaresma
- Molecular Imaging Unit, CIMES, Centro de Investigaciones Medico Sanitarias, General Foundation of the University of Malaga, C/ Marqués de Beccaria, 3, Campus Universitario de Teatinos, 29071, Málaga, Spain
| | - J Paredes-Pacheco
- Molecular Imaging Unit, CIMES, Centro de Investigaciones Medico Sanitarias, General Foundation of the University of Malaga, C/ Marqués de Beccaria, 3, Campus Universitario de Teatinos, 29071, Málaga, Spain; Universidade de Compostela, Department of Psychiatry, Radiology and Public Health, Molecular Imaging and Medical Physics Group, R/ de San Francisco s/n, 15782, Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain
| | - M Morales-Navas
- Universidad de Almeria, Departamento de Psicología, Ctra. Sacramento S/N, 04120, La Cañada, Almería, Spain
| | - J A Ruiz-Guijarro
- Molecular Imaging Unit, CIMES, Centro de Investigaciones Medico Sanitarias, General Foundation of the University of Malaga, C/ Marqués de Beccaria, 3, Campus Universitario de Teatinos, 29071, Málaga, Spain
| | - F Sanchez-Santed
- Universidad de Almeria, Departamento de Psicología, Ctra. Sacramento S/N, 04120, La Cañada, Almería, Spain
| | - F Nieto-Escámez
- Universidad de Almeria, Departamento de Psicología, Ctra. Sacramento S/N, 04120, La Cañada, Almería, Spain; Centro de Evaluación y Rehabilitación Neuropsicológica (CERNEP), Universidad de Almería, Ctra. Sacramento S/N, 04120, La Cañada, Almería, Spain; NeuroDigital Technologies S.L., Prol. Camino de la Goleta 2, Edf. Celulosa I, 04007, Almería, Spain
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From Basic Visual Science to Neurodevelopmental Disorders: The Voyage of Environmental Enrichment-Like Stimulation. Neural Plast 2019; 2019:5653180. [PMID: 31198418 PMCID: PMC6526521 DOI: 10.1155/2019/5653180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2019] [Revised: 03/06/2019] [Accepted: 04/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Genes and environmental stimuli cooperate in the regulation of brain development and formation of the adult neuronal architecture. Genetic alterations or exposure to perturbing environmental conditions, therefore, can lead to altered neural processes associated with neurodevelopmental disorders and brain disabilities. In this context, environmental enrichment emerged as a promising and noninvasive experimental treatment for favoring recovery of cognitive and sensory functions in different neurodevelopmental disorders. The aim of this review is to depict, mainly through the much explicative examples of amblyopia, Down syndrome, and Rett syndrome, the increasing interest in the potentialities and applications of enriched environment-like protocols in the field of neurodevelopmental disorders and the understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of these protocols, which might lead to development of pharmacological interventions.
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Abstract
The shift in ocular dominance (OD) of binocular neurons induced by monocular deprivation is the canonical model of synaptic plasticity confined to a postnatal critical period. Developmental constraints on this plasticity not only lend stability to the mature visual cortical circuitry but also impede the ability to recover from amblyopia beyond an early window. Advances with mouse models utilizing the power of molecular, genetic, and imaging tools are beginning to unravel the circuit, cellular, and molecular mechanisms controlling the onset and closure of the critical periods of plasticity in the primary visual cortex (V1). Emerging evidence suggests that mechanisms enabling plasticity in juveniles are not simply lost with age but rather that plasticity is actively constrained by the developmental up-regulation of molecular 'brakes'. Lifting these brakes enhances plasticity in the adult visual cortex, and can be harnessed to promote recovery from amblyopia. The reactivation of plasticity by experimental manipulations has revised the idea that robust OD plasticity is limited to early postnatal development. Here, we discuss recent insights into the neurobiology of the initiation and termination of critical periods and how our increasingly mechanistic understanding of these processes can be leveraged toward improved clinical treatment of adult amblyopia.
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Isolated Second Implant Adaptation Period in Sequential Cochlear Implantation in Adults. Otol Neurotol 2018; 38:e274-e281. [PMID: 28806338 DOI: 10.1097/mao.0000000000001461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine if depriving the use of the first cochlear implant (CI1) impacts adaptation to a sequential implant (CI2). STUDY DESIGN Prospective cohort. SETTING Academic center. PATIENTS Sixteen unilateral cochlear implant recipients undergoing contralateral implantation (sequential bilateral) were matched according to age, etiology, duration of deafness, device age, and delay between implants. INTERVENTION During a 4-week adaptation period after CI2 activation, patients underwent deprivation of CI1 or were permitted continued use of it. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Speech perception scores and subjective quality of life outcomes before CI2 and at 1, 3, 6, and 12-months following activation. RESULTS Maximal CI2 speech perception scores in quiet were achieved by 1-month postactivation for the "deprivation" group (71.3% for hearing in noise test [HINT], p = 0.767 for change beyond 1-mo) compared with 6-months for the "continued use" group (67.9% for HINT, p = 0.064 for change beyond 6-mo). The "deprivation" group experienced a temporary drop in CI1 scores (67.9% for HINT in quiet at 1-mo versus 78.4% pre-CI2, p = 0.009) recovering to 77.3% by 3-months; unchanged from baseline levels (p = 1.0). A binaural advantage over the better hearing ear was present for HINT sentences with noise (72.4% versus 58.8% for "deprivation", p = 0.001; 71.5% versus 52.7% for "continued use," p = 0.01). Missing data precluded a meaningful analysis of subjective quality of life outcome scales. CONCLUSION Bilateral cochlear implantation improves speech perception compared with one implant. A period of deprivation from CI1 shortens time to maximum speech perception by CI2 without long-term consequences on the performance of CI1.
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Combes RD, Shah AB. The use of in vivo, ex vivo, in vitro, computational models and volunteer studies in vision research and therapy, and their contribution to the Three Rs. Altern Lab Anim 2017; 44:187-238. [PMID: 27494623 DOI: 10.1177/026119291604400302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Much is known about mammalian vision, and considerable progress has been achieved in treating many vision disorders, especially those due to changes in the eye, by using various therapeutic methods, including stem cell and gene therapy. While cells and tissues from the main parts of the eye and the visual cortex (VC) can be maintained in culture, and many computer models exist, the current non-animal approaches are severely limiting in the study of visual perception and retinotopic imaging. Some of the early studies with cats and non-human primates (NHPs) are controversial for animal welfare reasons and are of questionable clinical relevance, particularly with respect to the treatment of amblyopia. More recently, the UK Home Office records have shown that attention is now more focused on rodents, especially the mouse. This is likely to be due to the perceived need for genetically-altered animals, rather than to knowledge of the similarities and differences of vision in cats, NHPs and rodents, and the fact that the same techniques can be used for all of the species. We discuss the advantages and limitations of animal and non-animal methods for vision research, and assess their relative contributions to basic knowledge and clinical practice, as well as outlining the opportunities they offer for implementing the principles of the Three Rs (Replacement, Reduction and Refinement).
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Atul B Shah
- Ophthalmic Surgeon, National Eye Registry Ltd, Leicester, UK
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16
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Wang Y, Wu W, Zhang X, Hu X, Li Y, Lou S, Ma X, An X, Liu H, Peng J, Ma D, Zhou Y, Yang Y. A Mouse Model of Visual Perceptual Learning Reveals Alterations in Neuronal Coding and Dendritic Spine Density in the Visual Cortex. Front Behav Neurosci 2016; 10:42. [PMID: 27014004 PMCID: PMC4785181 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2016.00042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2015] [Accepted: 02/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Visual perceptual learning (VPL) can improve spatial vision in normally sighted and visually impaired individuals. Although previous studies of humans and large animals have explored the neural basis of VPL, elucidation of the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms remains a challenge. Owing to the advantages of molecular genetic and optogenetic manipulations, the mouse is a promising model for providing a mechanistic understanding of VPL. Here, we thoroughly evaluated the effects and properties of VPL on spatial vision in C57BL/6J mice using a two-alternative, forced-choice visual water task. Briefly, the mice underwent prolonged training at near the individual threshold of contrast or spatial frequency (SF) for pattern discrimination or visual detection for 35 consecutive days. Following training, the contrast-threshold trained mice showed an 87% improvement in contrast sensitivity (CS) and a 55% gain in visual acuity (VA). Similarly, the SF-threshold trained mice exhibited comparable and long-lasting improvements in VA and significant gains in CS over a wide range of SFs. Furthermore, learning largely transferred across eyes and stimulus orientations. Interestingly, learning could transfer from a pattern discrimination task to a visual detection task, but not vice versa. We validated that this VPL fully restored VA in adult amblyopic mice and old mice. Taken together, these data indicate that mice, as a species, exhibit reliable VPL. Intrinsic signal optical imaging revealed that mice with perceptual training had higher cut-off SFs in primary visual cortex (V1) than those without perceptual training. Moreover, perceptual training induced an increase in the dendritic spine density in layer 2/3 pyramidal neurons of V1. These results indicated functional and structural alterations in V1 during VPL. Overall, our VPL mouse model will provide a platform for investigating the neurobiological basis of VPL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Wang
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China Hefei, China
| | - Wei Wu
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China Hefei, China
| | - Xian Zhang
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China Hefei, China
| | - Xu Hu
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China Hefei, China
| | - Yue Li
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China Hefei, China
| | - Shihao Lou
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China Hefei, China
| | - Xiao Ma
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China Hefei, China
| | - Xu An
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China Hefei, China
| | - Hui Liu
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China Hefei, China
| | - Jing Peng
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China Hefei, China
| | - Danyi Ma
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China Hefei, China
| | - Yifeng Zhou
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China Hefei, China
| | - Yupeng Yang
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China Hefei, China
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17
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Eaton NC, Sheehan HM, Quinlan EM. Optimization of visual training for full recovery from severe amblyopia in adults. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016; 23:99-103. [PMID: 26787781 PMCID: PMC4749829 DOI: 10.1101/lm.040295.115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2015] [Accepted: 12/01/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The severe amblyopia induced by chronic monocular deprivation is highly resistant to reversal in adulthood. Here we use a rodent model to show that recovery from deprivation amblyopia can be achieved in adults by a two-step sequence, involving enhancement of synaptic plasticity in the visual cortex by dark exposure followed immediately by visual training. The perceptual learning induced by visual training contributes to the recovery of vision and can be optimized to drive full recovery of visual acuity in severely amblyopic adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolette C Eaton
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA
| | - Hanna Marie Sheehan
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA
| | - Elizabeth M Quinlan
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA Neuroscience and Cognitive Sciences Program, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA
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18
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Beshara S, Beston BR, Pinto JGA, Murphy KM. Effects of Fluoxetine and Visual Experience on Glutamatergic and GABAergic Synaptic Proteins in Adult Rat Visual Cortex. eNeuro 2015; 2:ENEURO.0126-15.2015. [PMID: 26730408 PMCID: PMC4698542 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0126-15.2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2015] [Revised: 12/04/2015] [Accepted: 12/08/2015] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Fluoxetine has emerged as a novel treatment for persistent amblyopia because in adult animals it reinstates critical period-like ocular dominance plasticity and promotes recovery of visual acuity. Translation of these results from animal models to the clinic, however, has been challenging because of the lack of understanding of how this selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor affects glutamatergic and GABAergic synaptic mechanisms that are essential for experience-dependent plasticity. An appealing hypothesis is that fluoxetine recreates a critical period (CP)-like state by shifting synaptic mechanisms to be more juvenile. To test this we studied the effect of fluoxetine treatment in adult rats, alone or in combination with visual deprivation [monocular deprivation (MD)], on a set of highly conserved presynaptic and postsynaptic proteins (synapsin, synaptophysin, VGLUT1, VGAT, PSD-95, gephyrin, GluN1, GluA2, GluN2B, GluN2A, GABAAα1, GABAAα3). We did not find evidence that fluoxetine shifted the protein amounts or balances to a CP-like state. Instead, it drove the balances in favor of the more mature subunits (GluN2A, GABAAα1). In addition, when fluoxetine was paired with MD it created a neuroprotective-like environment by normalizing the glutamatergic gain found in adult MDs. Together, our results suggest that fluoxetine treatment creates a novel synaptic environment dominated by GluN2A- and GABAAα1-dependent plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Beshara
- McMaster Integrative Neuroscience Discovery and Study (MiNDS) Program, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Brett R. Beston
- McMaster Integrative Neuroscience Discovery and Study (MiNDS) Program, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4K1, Canada
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behavior, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4K1, Canada
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, L5L 1C6, ON
| | - Joshua G. A. Pinto
- McMaster Integrative Neuroscience Discovery and Study (MiNDS) Program, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4K1, Canada
- Health Care Investment Banking, Credit Suisse AG, San Francisco, CA 94108
| | - Kathryn M. Murphy
- McMaster Integrative Neuroscience Discovery and Study (MiNDS) Program, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4K1, Canada
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behavior, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4K1, Canada
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19
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Sale A, Berardi N. Active training for amblyopia in adult rodents. Front Behav Neurosci 2015; 9:281. [PMID: 26578911 PMCID: PMC4621305 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2015.00281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2015] [Accepted: 10/06/2015] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Amblyopia is the most diffused form of visual function impairment affecting one eye, with a prevalence of 1–5% in the total world population. Amblyopia is usually caused by an early functional imbalance between the two eyes, deriving from anisometropia, strabismus, or congenital cataract, leading to severe deficits in visual acuity, contrast sensitivity and stereopsis. While amblyopia can be efficiently treated in children, it becomes irreversible in adults, as a result of a dramatic decline in visual cortex plasticity which occurs at the end of the critical period (CP) in the primary visual cortex. Notwithstanding this widely accepted dogma, recent evidence in animal models and in human patients have started to challenge this view, revealing a previously unsuspected possibility to enhance plasticity in the adult visual system and to achieve substantial visual function recovery. Among the new proposed intervention strategies, non invasive procedures based on environmental enrichment, physical exercise or visual perceptual learning (vPL) appear particularly promising in terms of future applicability in the clinical setting. In this survey, we will review recent literature concerning the application of these behavioral intervention strategies to the treatment of amblyopia, with a focus on possible underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Sale
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council Pisa, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Berardi
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council Pisa, Italy ; Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health NEUROFARBA, University of Florence Florence, Italy
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20
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Zoccolan D, Cox DD, Benucci A. Editorial: What can simple brains teach us about how vision works. Front Neural Circuits 2015; 9:51. [PMID: 26483639 PMCID: PMC4586271 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2015.00051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2015] [Accepted: 09/14/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Davide Zoccolan
- Visual Neuroscience Lab, International School for Advanced Studies Trieste, Italy
| | - David D Cox
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology and Center for Brain Science, Harvard University Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Andrea Benucci
- Laboratory for Neural Circuit and Behavior, RIKEN Brain Science Institute Wako City, Japan
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21
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Zueva MV. Fractality of sensations and the brain health: the theory linking neurodegenerative disorder with distortion of spatial and temporal scale-invariance and fractal complexity of the visible world. Front Aging Neurosci 2015; 7:135. [PMID: 26236232 PMCID: PMC4502359 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2015.00135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2014] [Accepted: 07/02/2015] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The theory that ties normal functioning and pathology of the brain and visual system with the spatial-temporal structure of the visual and other sensory stimuli is described for the first time in the present study. The deficit of fractal complexity of environmental influences can lead to the distortion of fractal complexity in the visual pathways of the brain and abnormalities of development or aging. The use of fractal light stimuli and fractal stimuli of other modalities can help to restore the functions of the brain, particularly in the elderly and in patients with neurodegenerative disorders or amblyopia. Non-linear dynamics of these physiological processes have a strong base of evidence, which is seen in the impaired fractal regulation of rhythmic activity in aged and diseased brains. From birth to old age, we live in a non-linear world, in which objects and processes with the properties of fractality and non-linearity surround us. Against this background, the evolution of man took place and all periods of life unfolded. Works of art created by man may also have fractal properties. The positive influence of music on cognitive functions is well-known. Insufficiency of sensory experience is believed to play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of amblyopia and age-dependent diseases. The brain is very plastic in its early development, and the plasticity decreases throughout life. However, several studies showed the possibility to reactivate the adult's neuroplasticity in a variety of ways. We propose that a non-linear structure of sensory information on many spatial and temporal scales is crucial to the brain health and fractal regulation of physiological rhythms. Theoretical substantiation of the author's theory is presented. Possible applications and the future research that can experimentally confirm or refute the theoretical concept are considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina V. Zueva
- The Division of Clinical Physiology of Vision, Federal State Budgetary Institution “Moscow Helmholtz Research Institute of Eye Diseases" of the Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian FederationMoscow, Russia
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22
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Camilleri R, Pavan A, Ghin F, Battaglini L, Campana G. Improvement of uncorrected visual acuity and contrast sensitivity with perceptual learning and transcranial random noise stimulation in individuals with mild myopia. Front Psychol 2014; 5:1234. [PMID: 25400610 PMCID: PMC4212604 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2014.01234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2014] [Accepted: 10/10/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Perceptual learning has been shown to produce an improvement of visual acuity (VA) and contrast sensitivity (CS) both in subjects with amblyopia and refractive defects such as myopia or presbyopia. Transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS) has proven to be efficacious in accelerating neural plasticity and boosting perceptual learning in healthy participants. In this study, we investigated whether a short behavioral training regime using a contrast detection task combined with online tRNS was as effective in improving visual functions in participants with mild myopia compared to a 2-month behavioral training regime without tRNS (Camilleri et al., 2014). After 2 weeks of perceptual training in combination with tRNS, participants showed an improvement of 0.15 LogMAR in uncorrected VA (UCVA) that was comparable with that obtained after 8 weeks of training with no tRNS, and an improvement in uncorrected CS (UCCS) at various spatial frequencies (whereas no UCCS improvement was seen after 8 weeks of training with no tRNS). On the other hand, a control group that trained for 2 weeks without stimulation did not show any significant UCVA or UCCS improvement. These results suggest that the combination of behavioral and neuromodulatory techniques can be fast and efficacious in improving sight in individuals with mild myopia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Camilleri
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova , Padova, Italy
| | - Andrea Pavan
- School of Psychology, University of Lincoln , Lincoln, UK
| | - Filippo Ghin
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova , Padova, Italy
| | - Luca Battaglini
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova , Padova, Italy
| | - Gianluca Campana
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova , Padova, Italy ; Human Inspired Technologies Research Center, University of Padova , Padova, Italy
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