# Controlling synaptic and intrinsic plasticity underlying visual cortical enhancement

> **NIH NIH R00** · GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY · 2022 · $249,000

## Abstract

Amblyopia is widespread form of human visual disability caused by a disparity in visual quality between the
two eyes during early postnatal life. This disparity drives ocular dominance plasticity in the visual cortex to
favor the stronger eye at the expense of the weaker (amblyopic) eye. Consequently, synapses in the visual
cortex downstream of the amblyopic eye are weakened, a process that is difficult to reverse unless
treatment is initiated during infancy or early childhood. Recent work in animal models has suggested
several strategies for promoting recovery from amblyopia. While the pathophysiology underlying amblyopia
has been well studied, the synaptic, cellular, and circuit changes underlying recovery are less clear. This
proposal focuses on a treatment strategy that rapidly promotes visual recovery following experimental
amblyopia via temporary inactivation of the retinas. A temporary period of retinal inactivation leads of a
stable enhancement of visual cortical responses once vision is restored. The previous mentored research
focused on understanding how retinal inactivation promotes recovery at through synaptic and cellular
plasticity in the primary visual cortex. The current proposal shifts the focus to how recovery manifests in the
statistics of neural activity within visual circuits, and whether this recovery can be controlled through
reproducing these activity regimes. The long- term objective of this research is to understand how cortical
plasticity is engaged to promote recovery and to inform clinical interventions for treating human amblyopia.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10528014
- **Project number:** 4R00EY029326-03
- **Recipient organization:** GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
- **Principal Investigator:** Ming-fai Fong
- **Activity code:** R00 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $249,000
- **Award type:** 4C
- **Project period:** 2022-06-01 → 2025-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10528014

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10528014, Controlling synaptic and intrinsic plasticity underlying visual cortical enhancement (4R00EY029326-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10528014. Licensed CC0.

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