Vision

The rules neurons follow to make sense of what we see

Online game reveals secrets of animal camouflage

Researchers used a game to analyze the effects of geometry and lighting on optimal camouflage. The study found that high-contrast markings like tiger stripes are harder to see in sunshine, while plainer patterns provide better camouflage in indirect sunlight.

Translational experiments advance efforts to restore vision with transplanted neurons

Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine have made progress in transplanting retinal ganglion cells to restore vision in people with optic nerve damage. By disrupting the internal limiting membrane, a thin layer of tissue that blocks the growth and survival of transplanted nerve cells, scientists have seen improved transplantation surviva...

Black grouse eye test reveals best flags to protect birds from fatal cables

Researchers found that black grouse can't see dark shades of red and have limited visual contrast, making certain colors ineffective at warning them away from fatal cables. To mitigate this risk, they recommend using large, strongly contrasting markers to provide enough time for the birds to react.

The brain’s ability to grasp the “gist” of a visual scene begins earlier than expected

A research team led by LEE Doyun and KIM Yee-Joon found that the primary visual cortex encodes motion summaries and variability before higher brain regions transform them into category signals. This process, known as ensemble perception, allows the brain to capture the overall structure of a scene at a glance.

Movies reconstructed from mouse brain activity

Researchers have successfully reconstructed videos from mouse brain activity, allowing them to understand how the brain processes visual information. By analyzing the neural activity in the visual cortex, the team created high-quality reconstructions of 10-second video clips, revealing the brain's representation of visual cues.

AI, monkey brains, and the virtue of small thinking

Researchers have developed a smaller and simpler AI model that accurately predicts neural responses to visual stimuli in macaque brains. The compact model reveals unique neuron preferences for features like edges and colors, shedding light on how the brain processes information.

Twilight fish study reveals unique hybrid eye cells

Researchers discovered a unique photoreceptor cell that optimizes vision in low-light conditions, combining the benefits of both cone and rod cells. This finding has potential applications in developing more efficient cameras and medical treatments for eye conditions such as glaucoma.

How a unique class of neurons may set the table for brain development

A new MIT study reveals that somatostatin-expressing neurons follow a unique trajectory when forming connections in the visual cortex, establishing conditions needed for sensory refinement. These inhibitory neurons help usher in the critical period by setting baseline inhibition levels.

Exploring how the visual system recovers following injury

A new study using mice found that surviving cells compensate for cell death by sprouting extra branches to promote recovery in the visual brain system. However, female mice showed delayed or incomplete repair compared to males. This suggests a compensatory mechanism following brain injury that differs between sexes.

Prefrontal cortex reaches back into the brain to shape how other regions function

Researchers found that the prefrontal cortex sends customized signals to visual and motor regions, influencing their activity based on arousal levels and movement. The study reveals distinct roles of prefrontal subregions in shaping visual processing, with one region enhancing stimuli detection and another dampening irrelevant stimuli.

Calcium “waves” shape flies’ eyes

A new study reveals that fruit flies have retinal waves of calcium activity during development, shaping their growing eyes and creating a precisely ordered architecture. These waves refine connections in the visual brain while also playing a key role in building the physical architecture of the eye.

MIT study shows how vision can be rebooted in adults with amblyopia

A new MIT study reveals that temporarily anesthetizing the retina of the amblyopic eye can restore its neural connections and improve vision in adulthood. The treatment, which has been shown to be effective in infancy and early childhood, may have promising clinical potential for adults with amblyopia.

Loss of key visual channel triggers rhythmic retinal signals linked to night blindness

Researchers at Ritsumeikan University have discovered that the loss of TRPM1 ion channels sets off a cascade of changes leading to persistent oscillations in the retina. This finding illuminates the cellular basis of congenital stationary night blindness and identifies a common mechanism underlying retinal degenerative conditions.

Who is more likely to lose vision due to high brain pressure?

A new study published in Neurology found that people with high brain pressure disorder are more likely to experience vision problems, especially scotomas and reduced visual acuity. The study identified two mechanisms leading to vision loss and developed an assessment to predict who may develop persistent vision problems.

Like radar, a brain wave sweeps a cortical region to read out information held in working memory

A new MIT study found that a theta-frequency brain wave scans the mental image and a region of the cortex maps visual information. The researchers observed that performance depends on the phase of this wave when the changed square appears, and the vertical location on the screen of that target square.

Study finds circular RNA helps drive brain development

A new study by MIT neuroscientists reveals that circular RNA, specifically circHomer1, strongly influences how neurons build circuit connections during visual system development. Knocking out circHomer1 prevents synapse maturation and delays expected neural adjustments in response to monocular deprivation.

Vision therapy reverses concussion-related double and blurred vision, NJIT-led study finds

A recent study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that vision therapy can effectively treat concussion-related eye coordination disorders, including convergence insufficiency and accommodation insufficiency. Nearly 90% of patients in the treatment group were able to see normally after 12 weeks of therapy.

University of Houston optometry professor receives $2.6 million to continue groundbreaking eye research

Professor John O'Brien's research focuses on understanding the impact of electrical synapses and gap junction plasticity on the retina and other neurological functions. The study aims to identify proteins that control electrical synapse strength, shedding light on their role in human disorders such as autism and seizures.

How the brain splits up vision without you even noticing

The brain divides vision between its two hemispheres to enable seamless perception. Researchers at the Picower Institute found that different frequencies of brain waves are encoded and transferred information from one hemisphere to the other before an object crosses the middle of the field of view.

Scientists shoot lasers into brain cells to uncover how illusions work

Researchers identified IC-encoder neurons that drive pattern completion and recurrent neural activity in the brain. The findings have implications for understanding neuropsychiatric disorders like schizophrenia.

Do you see what I see? People share brain responses for colors.

Researchers found that distinct neural representations of color are conserved across people's brains, enabling scientists to predict the color and brightness of observed stimuli using brain activity comparisons. This study provides new insights into the universal aspects of human color perception.

Seeing with fresh eyes: Snails as a system for studying sight restoration

Researchers have established apple snails as a system to study eye regeneration, which may hold the key for restoring vision due to damage and disease. The team discovered that the snail eye is anatomically similar to humans and can regrow itself, with genes such as pax6 playing a crucial role in development.

Researchers find brain immune cells regulate vision health

In a breakthrough study, researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center found that microglia cells respond differently than neutrophils to photoreceptor damage in the retina. This discovery has high implications for treating vision loss caused by photoreceptor cell damage.

Study finds key role for non-neural brain cells in processing vision

Researchers found that astrocytes maintain optimal levels of GABA to enable neural groups to process visual information efficiently. Knocking out Gat3 in mice impaired neuron coordination and reduced ensemble activity, highlighting the importance of astrocytic regulation.

Connect or reject: Extensive rewiring builds binocular vision in the brain

A study published in Nature Communications reveals that neurons in mice brain rewire and refine their connections to integrate visual signals from both eyes over a 10-day period. The researchers found that only 40% of the initial synapses survived, with 24% added and 27% removed, indicating an extensive process of synaptic turnover.

Study: Babies’ poor vision may help organize visual brain pathways

New research suggests that blurry, color-limited vision in early childhood can contribute to the development of key brain pathways. The study proposes that such limited vision allows the brain to specialize in certain processing units, which later develop into distinct pathways for color and fine spatial detail.

Connect or reject: Extensive rewiring builds binocular vision in the brain

A study in mice reveals that only 40% of synapses survive during critical development, with active spines more likely to endure. Clustering of spines also emerges, allowing them to combine activity and enhance visual processing.

Self-trained vision transformers mimic human gaze with surprising precision

Researchers from The University of Osaka have demonstrated that vision transformers can spontaneously develop human-like visual attention patterns without specific training. This breakthrough showcases the potential of self-supervised learning for advancing AI applications and modeling biological vision.

Infrared contact lenses allow people to see in the dark, even with their eyes closed

Researchers have created contact lenses that convert infrared light into visible light, allowing users to perceive multiple infrared wavelengths. In experiments, mice and human participants showed enhanced infrared vision when their eyes were closed, with improved color perception for color blind individuals.

Language isn’t just for communication — it also shapes how sensory experiences are stored in the brain

A study found that connections between visual and language processing regions in the brain influence object knowledge. Stroke patients' brains showed stronger connections meant better performance on color-identification tasks.

Dental and vision services among veterans in Medicare Advantage vs traditional Medicare

A study found that veterans enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans use dental and vision services at a similar rate as those in traditional Medicare. MA plans spent only slightly more on these services, including emergency dental care. After accounting for private insurance coverage, the total spending on dental services was compara...

University of Cincinnati study finds vision loss fear may keep some from having cataract surgery

A University of Cincinnati study explores the link between health literacy and fear surrounding cataract surgery, revealing no correlation between the two. The research emphasizes the importance of open communication and building relationships to overcome fear.

Scientists trick the eye into seeing new color ‘olo’

Researchers at UC Berkeley created a platform called Oz that controls up to 1,000 photoreceptors in the eye at once, enabling the perception of a blue-green color named 'olo'. This breakthrough could provide new insights into human sight and vision loss, as well as answer basic questions about color vision.

Golden eyes: How gold nanoparticles may one day help to restore people’s vision

Researchers at Brown University suggest that gold nanoparticles could one day be used to restore vision in people with macular degeneration and other retinal disorders. The nanoparticles, when injected into the retina, can stimulate the visual system and restore vision in mice with retinal disorders.

Scientific discovery: the "walking cane for the blind" of the greater mouse-tailed bat

The Greater Mouse-Tailed Bat uses its long tail as a dynamic sensing tool to avoid obstacles and orient itself in complex environments, especially when vision and echolocation are limited. The study found that the bats' ability to navigate decreased significantly when their tail was numbed.

Patching after age 4 does not modify visual acuity in children treated for a unilateral congenital cataract

Research by Carolyn Drews-Botsch finds that patching after age 4 does not significantly impact vision, but less-aggressive protocols may be suitable for families with distress. Optotype acuity assessments in 4-year-olds can predict visual acuity at age 10.

KAIST Develops Retinal Therapy to Restore Lost Vision​

Researchers at KAIST have successfully developed a treatment method that restores vision by inducing retinal regeneration and vision recovery in disease-model mice. The approach involves blocking the PROX1 protein, which suppresses retinal regeneration, using an antibody developed by Celliaz Inc.

How movement affects the way the brain processes sound and sight

A study by Dr. LEE Seung-Hee reveals how the brain dynamically adjusts sensory input prioritization depending on movement, with vision taking priority for navigation. The posterior parietal cortex and secondary motor cortex play key roles in this process.

Glaucoma monitoring lags in low-income and rural areas

A Northwestern University study found significant disparities in glaucoma monitoring, with rural and economically distressed communities facing barriers to care. The study identified strategies to improve access, including expanding tele-ophthalmology services, home monitoring technology, and financial support.

Aston University study reveals the illusion of ‘dazzle’ paint on World War I battleships

A new analysis of 105-year-old data found that while dazzle camouflage had some effect, the 'horizon effect' had a much greater influence on confusing enemy ships. The study, led by Aston University researchers, showed that when people looked at a ship in the distance, they significantly underestimated its direction of travel.

AI revolutionizes glaucoma care: Tohoku University develops specialist-level screening system

The AI-GS network achieves high accuracy with 93.52% sensitivity at 95% specificity, excelling in detecting early-stage glaucoma. The system is portable, requiring minimal computational power and delivering results in under a second.

Advances in corneal healing research drive new treatments for rare eye diseases

Scientists have identified key corneal neurons involved in sensitivity and developed an experimental model to study nerve regeneration. The Ocular Neurobiology laboratory is participating in the RESTORE VISION project, which aims to improve eye health and quality of life for those affected by rare eye diseases.

Stem cell transplant clears clinical safety hurdle for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration

A new stem cell transplant treatment has shown promising results in clearing clinical safety hurdles for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration. The treatment involves removing abnormal blood vessels and transplanting stem cell-derived retinal cells to replace damaged or lost retinal cells.

Tests on sunglasses show deficiencies in protection against ultraviolet rays

A study analyzing 12 sunglasses models found that only one met international safety limits for UV radiation exposure. The lenses lose their ability to block UV radiation over time, increasing the risk of eye damage. To minimize this risk, scientists suggest adopting ICNIRP limits as standard practice.

The challenge of pursuit – how saccades enable mammals to simultaneously chase prey and navigate through complex environments

Eye saccades enable mammals to chase prey and navigate through complex environments by aligning with optic flow, reducing motion blur. This mechanism allows animals to track erratic movements and react flexibly to changes in direction.

University of Houston study shows effectiveness of method to stem nearsightedness

A University of Houston study found that wearing multifocal contact lenses for myopia control has a lasting effect, slowing eye growth and progression. The study, which followed children from ages 7 to 11 for three years, showed that the treatment benefit remained even after discontinuing treatment.

Getting rehab earlier improves concussion outcomes, OHSU study suggests

A new study from Oregon Health & Science University found that people who receive physical therapy earlier after a concussion tend to have better balance control and reduced reaction times. This can lead to improved outcomes and reduced risk of re-injury. Early intervention may enable the brain to return to a more normal state, compens...

Up to $47 million award supports collaborative eye transplant research co-led by USC

Researchers aim to advance eye transplantation through cutting-edge technologies and techniques, including cell-based therapies and device development. The six-year project, led by Kia Washington at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, seeks to overcome current limitations in whole-eye transplant success rates.

NIH awards $2.7 million to map retinal connections in degenerative eye disease

A research team led by USC aims to create comprehensive maps of retinal nerve connections to understand and combat retinitis pigmentosa, a progressive eye disease affecting 2 million people globally.

New research finds how fighting female flies focus on their foes

Scientists have uncovered how aggression affects vision in female fruit flies, revealing three distinct mechanisms that regulate visual attention. This breakthrough provides insight into the link between sensory information and social behaviors, with potential implications for understanding and treating neuropsychiatric disorders.

Minipigs get stem cell transplants to treat blindness

Researchers at the University of Montreal have successfully transplanted human retinal sheets into minipigs with damaged macula, resulting in signs of restored vision. The method uses hypoimmunogenic human retinal sheets and has shown promise in treating severe photoreceptor degeneration.

COVID infection and age-related blindness

An experimental study in mice found that SARS-CoV-2 infection can damage the retinas, leading to long-term implications for vision. The virus caused widespread inflammation across the retinal pigment epithelium, including complement activation and increased production of inflammatory cytokines.

Nerve cells of blind mice retain their visual function

Researchers at TU Wien found that retinal ganglion cells retain their ability to produce different signals even after blindness. These intrinsic properties are stable and can be utilized in retinal implants, leading to better stimulation strategies for blind patients.

Around 450,000 children disadvantaged by lack of school support for color blindness

Around 450,000 UK children with color blindness are being failed by the education system due to a lack of recognition and support from schools. Colour blindness affects how people see the entire visible colour spectrum, not just red and green.

Unraveling the mysteries of cerebral/cortical visual impairment

Researchers propose a new working definition for CVI, a leading cause of blindness and visual impairment in children. The definition is based on five key elements and includes early detection, neuroplasticity, and functional deficits.

NIH-led scientific team defines elements of brain-based visual impairment in children

A brain-based condition causing vision problems in children has been defined by a NIH-led team. The five elements of cerebral (or cortical) visual impairment (CVI) include difficulty visually searching for objects or understanding complex motion.

Key to the invisible world found. ICTER scientists decipher two-photon vision

Researchers developed a method to measure the brightness of two-photon stimuli using photometric units, enabling the quantification of perceived brightness. The study found that two-photon retinal illumination can reach almost 670 cd/m² in safe laser power ranges.

Childhood neglect associated with stroke, COPD, cognitive impairment, and depression

A new study from the University of Toronto finds that childhood neglect is associated with a range of mental and physical health problems in adulthood. The presence of a supportive adult and higher socioeconomic status largely attenuate this relationship.

Pistachios may help improve eye health, new study finds

A new study found that consuming pistachios daily can significantly improve eye health by increasing macular pigment optical density due to the plant pigment lutein. Lutein may also benefit brain function by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation, supporting overall healthy aging.