# Development of direction selectivity in retina

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY · 2021 · $360,633

## Abstract

   
DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Direction-selective ganglion cells respond strongly to an image moving in the preferred direction and weakly to an image moving in the opposite, or null direction. Direction-selective ganglion cells are critical for driving ocular-motor reflexes tat stabilize images on the retina as we move through a visual scene as well as for sensing the movement of objects within the visual scene. The preferred directions of direction- selective ganglion cells cluster along the cardinal directions (up, down, left and right). The predominant model for the generation of direction selectivity in the retina is that a particular class of interneurons forms inhibitory synapses on the null side of the dendritic tree of direction-selectiv ganglion cells. The mechanisms that instruct the emergence of preferred directions and the circuits that underlie these mechanisms during development are unknown.  Here we propose to use a combination of state-of-the-art electrophysiological, two- photon imaging and optogenetic techniques to determine the mechanisms that underlie the development of two essential features of direction-selectivity - the emergence of preferred directions, and the circuits that create null side inhibition. In particular, we will determine if visual experience plays a criticalrole in the formation of these circuits.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10061596
- **Project number:** 5R01EY019498-12
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY
- **Principal Investigator:** Marla Feller
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $360,633
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2009-07-01 → 2021-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10061596

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10061596, Development of direction selectivity in retina (5R01EY019498-12). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10061596. Licensed CC0.

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