# Function, diversity, and circuitry of parallel retinal ganglion cell pathways

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · 2024 · $441,746

## Abstract

The goal of this research is to understand how the retina contributes to motion processing in the dorsal
visual pathway. The neural circuitry within the retina extracts visual information and sends that
information through the axons of retinal ganglion cells to the visual thalamus and, subsequently, to the
cortex. Much is known about the neural pathways that perform motion computations in the cortex, but
far less is known about how the retina contributes to this pathway. The proposed research will further
our understanding of how the retina contributes to motion processing and the mechanisms that contribute
to this neural computation.
Our first aim will directly determine whether selectivity for object versus background motion is present in
the retina and the neural mechanisms that mediate these computations.
Our second aim will study circuits tasked with detecting the orientation and motion of visual objects.
Our third aim will test whether signals from short-wavelength-sensitive cones are utilized for neural
computations outside of classical color vision.
If successful, this research will provide several significant contributions. First, it will increase our
understanding about how ethologically relevant information is encoded in parallel neural circuits—a
fundamental goal of systems neuroscience. Second, it will explain how excitatory and inhibitory neural
networks differentially shape information flow and contribute to neural computations. Finally, these
findings will be applicable immediately to ongoing development of retinal prostheses and other
techniques designed to restore visual function in blind humans.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10849868
- **Project number:** 5R01EY027323-07
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
- **Principal Investigator:** Michael B Manookin
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $441,746
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-03-01 → 2028-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10849868

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10849868, Function, diversity, and circuitry of parallel retinal ganglion cell pathways (5R01EY027323-07). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10849868. Licensed CC0.

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