# Central mechanisms for integrating distinct retinal inputs during the optokinetic reflex in mice

> **NIH NIH F31** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · 2021 · $39,636

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
The optokinetic reflex (OKR) is an innate, visually-driven behavior that is critical to normal vision. During OKR,
compensatory eye movements stabilize vision in response to slow, global image motion that often results from
changes in head position. While OKR is robust across diverse species, its underlying mechanisms are unknown.
This project aims to understand how distinct retinal output streams that collectively encode OKR-inducing stimuli
are centrally integrated to drive eye movements. To achieve this goal, a combination of physiology and
behavioral techniques will be used to measure functional readouts from three stages along the OKR pathway of
the mouse in response to a common stimulus set: 1) The population activity of retinal ganglion cells that are
responsible for detecting and encoding OKR-inducing stimuli, 2) Downstream neurons in the medial terminal
nucleus – a primary central hub for OKR processing, and 3) The eye movements of awake animals as they
perform OKR. This novel approach to describing signal transformation along the entirety of a visual pathway will
provide a mapping of retinal activity onto behavior and offer insight into how and where information from distinct
retinal output streams is centrally integrated. Broadly, such findings are important for revealing general strategies
by which elements of the central nervous system integrate competing inputs from distinct sources. Further,
revealing fundamental features of eye movement pathways will make progress towards understanding the
mechanisms behind a variety of common eye movement disorders including nystagmus, strabismus, and
amblyopia. This work will be complemented by a rigorous training plan that involves tailored mentorship,
coursework, presentation opportunities, and career development. Along with the institutional, intellectual, and
training resources available in the highly collaborative scientific environment at the University of California, San
Francisco, these research and training plans will jointly facilitate the applicant’s development into an independent
sensory neuroscientist.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10315952
- **Project number:** 1F31EY033225-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO
- **Principal Investigator:** Scott C Harris
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $39,636
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-09-01 → 2024-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10315952

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10315952, Central mechanisms for integrating distinct retinal inputs during the optokinetic reflex in mice (1F31EY033225-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10315952. Licensed CC0.

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