# Contributions of interhemispheric signaling to visual system processing and development

> **NIH NIH F30** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-IRVINE · 2022 · $51,752

## Abstract

Project Summary
The corpus callosum is a mammalian white matter structure providing the primary pathway for communication
between cortical hemispheres. Deficits in callosal structure can be seen in neuropsychiatric diseases such as
autism and schizophrenia and Developmental Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum is often accompanied by mental
retardation and seizure (Van der Knaap et al. 2011,Paul et al., 2007). Despite this, relatively little is known about
how interhemispheric processing contributes to perception and the experience dependent development of
systems. Using cutting-edge in vivo imaging and neuroanatomical techniques we can begin to dissect out the
role of interhemispheric processing in the context of visual perception. I aim to establish the first direct
measurements of the visual response properties of interhemispheric inputs. In doing so, we have already
uncovered underappreciated interhemispheric inputs from binocular visual cortex (bV1) into bV1 and higher
visual area PM. Furthermore, these projections appear to be visually responsive and whereas projections to PM
have similar response properties to intra-hemispheric inputs, projections onto bV1 provide high spatial frequency
ipsilateral eye information not represented in the local circuit. This shows that the circuits underlying
interhemispheric integration are more complex than traditional like-to-like patterning. We aim to follow up
this characterization with adult DREADDs manipulation to further parse out the interhemispheric contribution
on local network processing. We will also examine the hypothesis that interhemispheric silencing following
monocular deprivation rescues the experience dependent plasticity. If successful, this study will provide
the first direct insight into properties of interhemispheric projections and the circuits by which they affect visual
perception and development. These studies will be of broader interest by providing key insight into the
function of the corpus callosum.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10468138
- **Project number:** 5F30EY029596-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-IRVINE
- **Principal Investigator:** Ricardo Azevedo
- **Activity code:** F30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $51,752
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-09-01 → 2023-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10468138

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10468138, Contributions of interhemispheric signaling to visual system processing and development (5F30EY029596-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10468138. Licensed CC0.

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