# Mechanisms controlling retinal responses to natural stimuli

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · 2024 · $388,750

## Abstract

Summary and expected impact
The proposed experiments will provide a clearer picture of the mechanisms that shape
responses to natural stimuli in the primate retina. Preliminary results suggest several important
insights. Aim 1: We find that standard models fail to account for responses of On parasol cells to
natural images. These are among the best-studied ganglion cells, and the inability of standard
models to account for their responses is surprising. Specifically, our results suggest that the
manner in which these cells integrate signals across space is highly stimulus-dependent in a
manner not captured by current models. Aim 2: We find that receptive field subunits - long
associated with bipolar cells - have more diverse properties than previously appreciated, likely
reflecting contributions of cells other than bipolar cells. In particular, light-dependent changes in
subunit size will be important to consider in evaluating the functional role of subunits. Aim 3: A
tool that we recently developed reveals significant contributions of post-photoreceptor
mechanisms to the kinetics of retinal ganglion cell responses.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10873303
- **Project number:** 5R01EY028542-07
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
- **Principal Investigator:** FREDERICK M RIEKE
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $388,750
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-08-05 → 2028-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10873303

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10873303, Mechanisms controlling retinal responses to natural stimuli (5R01EY028542-07). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10873303. Licensed CC0.

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