Summary
This thesis investigates how cortical layer 6 neurons influence the targeting of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) to the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN) during visual system development, using a transgenic mouse model with near-complete neocortex loss. Findings have implications for understanding how disrupted thalamocortical circuitry — as seen in schizophrenia and autism — affects visual processing, circadian rhythm regulation, and the pupillary light reflex.
Key Findings
- Removal of RGC axons from the dLGN during development caused cortical neurons to innervate the dLGN at earlier time points, suggesting RGC axons control the timing of cortical innervation.
- Mice lacking the neocortex showed altered RGC innervation patterns in subcortical visual nuclei, allowing assessment of cortical necessity for circadian rhythm modulation and pupillary light reflex.
- The study is primarily mechanistic/developmental in nature; specific quantitative effect sizes for circadian or behavioral outcomes are not reported in the abstract.
Categories
The Science of Light: Investigates retinal ganglion cell (RGC) targeting to the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN) and the role of cortical-thalamic axons in visual circuit development, including pupillary light reflex pathways.
Sleep & Circadian Health: Examines whether cortical input modulates circadian rhythms and sleep-wake cycles in a neocortex-deficient mouse model.
Author(s)
JA Shanks
Publication Year
2015
Related Publications
The Science of Light
- Phototransduction by retinal ganglion cells that set the circadian clock
- Color appearance models
- The mammalian circadian timing system: organization and coordination of central and peripheral clocks
- Diminished pupillary light reflex at high irradiances in melanopsin-knockout mice
- Melanopsin is required for non-image-forming photic responses in blind mice
Sleep & Circadian Health
- Phototransduction by retinal ganglion cells that set the circadian clock
- The mammalian circadian timing system: organization and coordination of central and peripheral clocks
- The two‐process model of sleep regulation: a reappraisal
- Melanopsin is required for non-image-forming photic responses in blind mice
- Strange vision: ganglion cells as circadian photoreceptors