# Mechanisms of Motion Detection in Retinal Neural Network

> **NIH NIH R01** · WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $453,021

## Abstract

Abstract
Detection of moving objects is a retinal function which is crucial for an animal's survival. Multiple neurons and
neural networks in the retina have been identified as critical players in this task, including starburst amacrine
cells (SACs) and direction-selective ganglion cells (DSGCs), which sense direction of motion. Recent studies
have revealed that several neural networks among bipolar and amacrine cells are involved in direction
selectivity. However, the impact of environmental factors on motion sensitivity tuning of these neurons is not
well understood. Background scenery affects the gain control and tuning of neurons for object motion
detection; however, we have just begun to understand the sensitization and adaptation of those neurons. The
long-term objective of the present project is to understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms in the retina
for sensing direction of motion. We will conduct patch clamp recordings, two-photon calcium imaging,
immunohistochemistry, computational simulation, and behavioral studies to examine the mechanisms
underlying direction selectivity. We previously found that cholinergic feedback from SACs to bipolar cells
contributes to SAC direction selectivity. We now have evidence that the cholinergic feedback is transferred for
a long distance and tune SAC direction selectivity. Therefore, we hypothesize that an incoming object send a
signal to bipolar cells through a cholinergic pathway to tune SAC direction selectivity, a form of predictive
coding. We propose two Specific Aims to investigate long-distance cholinergic feedback. We will test this
hypothesis by recording long-distance cholinergic feedback in bipolar cells (Aim 1), and we will examine the
outcome of the long-distance cholinergic feedback in bipolar cell axon terminals, SAC dendrites, and DSGC
activity (Aim 2). Visual prediction is an essential feature for motion detection, which would reduce neural signal
delays and facilitate the animal reaction. Knowledge gained from the results of this project will shed light on the
additional layer of motion detection and visual signal processing in the retina.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10918337
- **Project number:** 5R01EY028915-06
- **Recipient organization:** WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Tomomi Ichinose
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $453,021
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-09-30 → 2028-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10918337

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10918337, Mechanisms of Motion Detection in Retinal Neural Network (5R01EY028915-06). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-14 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10918337. Licensed CC0.

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