# Characterizing neural and perceptual development of visual function in macaques

> **NIH NIH F31** · NEW YORK UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $15,640

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY ABSTRACT
Early infancy and childhood are periods of substantial neural and perceptual maturation. It is thought that much
of the unfolding of visual function occurs hierarchically, from early stages of the visual pathway to decision
processes and motor output. Nonetheless, the temporal correlation between behavioral and neural maturation
is weak and the limiting factors on visual development still remain elusive. Recent findings suggest that functional
changes in areas downstream of primary visual cortex (V1), such as V2 and V4 may give rise to progressively
more complex visual abilities with age. However, the relationship between behavioral and neural development
has only previously been assessed using metrics of basic spatial vision. Higher-order visual abilities like form
perception, object identification, and figure-ground segregation develop later than basic spatial vision and likely
depend on the function of areas beyond V1. In addition to changes at the level of individual neurons, it is possible
that perceptual improvement during development may depend on the refinement of functional interactions
between cortical neurons. This possibility has not previously been examined. To obtain a clearer picture of
potential factors limiting visual function throughout development, I propose to characterize: a) perceptual and
neuronal sensitivity to global form stimuli during development, and b) the pattern of correlated variability within
neural populations in V1 and V4. For my first aim, I will use a recently developed, quick visual discrimination task
to assess perceptual sensitivity to global form stimuli across development. In Aim 2, multi-electrode recordings
will be made in V1 and V4 simultaneously after the first behavioral data collection phase for Aim 1. In Aim 2a,
neuronal responses to radially modulated stimuli will be used to track the developmental time course of global
form sensitivity in each visual area. In Aim 2b, I will establish whether the magnitude and pattern of correlated
variability shifts with developmental time. For this investigation, I will use a limited set of interleaved, oriented
grating stimuli to document any changes in correlated firing with age. I will then evaluate the ability of a standard
decoder to correctly classify visual stimuli in the presence or absence of correlational structure in the data.
Together, these experiments will provide important insight into the neural mechanisms underlying visual
maturation and their relationship to perceptual improvement.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10235789
- **Project number:** 1F31EY031592-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** NEW YORK UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Charlie L. Rodriguez Deliz
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $15,640
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-04-16 → 2021-10-16

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10235789

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10235789, Characterizing neural and perceptual development of visual function in macaques (1F31EY031592-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10235789. Licensed CC0.

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