# Mechanisms controlling retinal responses to natural stimuli

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · 2020 · $388,750

## Abstract

We have made a tremendous amount of progress understanding sensory function. But this understanding fails
to account for responses to natural stimuli. We propose to develop a mechanistic understanding of how natural
stimuli are encoded in the primate retina through a combination of directed experimentation and quantitative modeling. This will encompass three aims: (1) determining the circuit mechanisms that explain striking differences in
responses of On parasol ganglion cells to natural and artificial stimuli; (2) determining the origin, properties, and
functional significance of the receptive field surround of retinal ganglion cells; and, (3) developing and applying
new tools to reveal the importance of cone adaptation in shaping ganglion cell responses to natural stimuli.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9987646
- **Project number:** 5R01EY028542-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
- **Principal Investigator:** FREDERICK M RIEKE
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $388,750
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-08-05 → 2023-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9987646

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9987646, Mechanisms controlling retinal responses to natural stimuli (5R01EY028542-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9987646. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*