Altered intrinsic neuronal interactions in the visual cortex of the blind
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Altered intrinsic neuronal interactions in the visual cortex of the blind. / Hawellek, David J; Schepers, Inga M; Roeder, Brigitte; Engel, Andreas K; Siegel, Markus; Hipp, Joerg F.
In: J NEUROSCI, Vol. 33, No. 43, 23.10.2013, p. 17072-80.Research output: SCORING: Contribution to journal › SCORING: Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Altered intrinsic neuronal interactions in the visual cortex of the blind
AU - Hawellek, David J
AU - Schepers, Inga M
AU - Roeder, Brigitte
AU - Engel, Andreas K
AU - Siegel, Markus
AU - Hipp, Joerg F
PY - 2013/10/23
Y1 - 2013/10/23
N2 - In congenital blindness, the brain develops under severe sensory deprivation and undergoes remarkable plastic changes in both structure and function. Visually deprived occipital cortical regions are histologically and morphologically altered and exhibit a strikingly remodeled functional state: absolute levels of neural activity are heightened and are modulated by nonvisual sensory stimulation as well as higher cognitive processes. However, the neuronal mechanisms that underlie this altered functional state remain largely unknown. Here, we show that the visual cortex of the congenitally blind exhibits a characteristic gain in frequency-specific intrinsic neuronal interactions. We studied oscillatory activity in 11 congenitally blind humans and matched sighted control subjects with magnetoencephalography at rest. We found increased spontaneous correlations of delta band (1-3 Hz) and gamma band (76-128 Hz) oscillations across the visual cortex of the blind that were functionally coupled. Local delta phase modulated gamma amplitude. Furthermore, classical resting rhythms (8-20 Hz) were reduced in amplitude but showed no altered correlation pattern. Our results suggest that both decreased inhibition and circuit mechanisms that support active processing are intrinsic features underlying the altered functional state of the visual cortex in congenitally blind individuals.
AB - In congenital blindness, the brain develops under severe sensory deprivation and undergoes remarkable plastic changes in both structure and function. Visually deprived occipital cortical regions are histologically and morphologically altered and exhibit a strikingly remodeled functional state: absolute levels of neural activity are heightened and are modulated by nonvisual sensory stimulation as well as higher cognitive processes. However, the neuronal mechanisms that underlie this altered functional state remain largely unknown. Here, we show that the visual cortex of the congenitally blind exhibits a characteristic gain in frequency-specific intrinsic neuronal interactions. We studied oscillatory activity in 11 congenitally blind humans and matched sighted control subjects with magnetoencephalography at rest. We found increased spontaneous correlations of delta band (1-3 Hz) and gamma band (76-128 Hz) oscillations across the visual cortex of the blind that were functionally coupled. Local delta phase modulated gamma amplitude. Furthermore, classical resting rhythms (8-20 Hz) were reduced in amplitude but showed no altered correlation pattern. Our results suggest that both decreased inhibition and circuit mechanisms that support active processing are intrinsic features underlying the altered functional state of the visual cortex in congenitally blind individuals.
KW - Adult
KW - Blindness
KW - Case-Control Studies
KW - Delta Rhythm
KW - Female
KW - Humans
KW - Male
KW - Middle Aged
KW - Neurons
KW - Visual Cortex
U2 - 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1625-13.2013
DO - 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1625-13.2013
M3 - SCORING: Journal article
C2 - 24155311
VL - 33
SP - 17072
EP - 17080
JO - J NEUROSCI
JF - J NEUROSCI
SN - 0270-6474
IS - 43
ER -