Science

New insight into the circuitry of the retina

New insight into the circuitry of the retina
A human retina, which was the focus of the study
A human retina, which was the focus of the study
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The 519-electrode array developed by Dr. Mathieson and Dr. Gunning at the University of Glasgow's James Watt Nanofabrication Centre
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The 519-electrode array developed by Dr. Mathieson and Dr. Gunning at the University of Glasgow's James Watt Nanofabrication Centre
A human retina, which was the focus of the study
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A human retina, which was the focus of the study

A better understanding of color vision has been gained in a feat of interdisciplinary and inter-institutional science. Researchers from neuroscience, nanoengineering, physics and electronics departments at universities on opposite sides of the world have come together to build a sensor that detects activity in the neural circuitry of the eye with a level of accuracy never before seen.

Scientists from the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in California, Stanford University(U.S.), the University of California, and the University of Glasgow have combined to develop a 519-electrode array to measure activity in the cells of the retina. Of interest is the relationship between the cone photoreceptor cells within the retina and the ganglion cells which transmit information from the retina to the brain. The researchers will now use this technology to gain further knowledge of vision disorders in a bid to ultimately find new treatments.

The 519-electrode array developed by Dr. Mathieson and Dr. Gunning at the University of Glasgow's James Watt Nanofabrication Centre
The 519-electrode array developed by Dr. Mathieson and Dr. Gunning at the University of Glasgow's James Watt Nanofabrication Centre

The photoreceptors in the retina are made up of two types: rods which see in black and white, and cones that detect color. Different cone cells in the retina respond to different light wavelengths or colors. This sectioning of wavelength reception gives rise to color vision. How these signals are combined by the retina and transmitted by the ganglion cells and onto the brain has been the subject of debate for years.

Dr. Keith Mathieson, from the School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Glasgow (and currently based at Stanford University and the University of California), was a key figure in developing this technology which records neural signals at over ten million samples each second with a very fine resolution.

“The electrode array we developed enabled us to measure the retinal output signals of hundreds of cells simultaneously and create a map of the input-output relationship at an unprecedented resolution and scale,” Dr. Mathieson said. “To develop new therapies for vision related problems, it is necessary to fully understand how the retina works. This research gives us a much greater insight into the circuitry of the retina and is an important development for neuroscience."

5 comments
5 comments
PizzaEater
Ever wonder how an eye evolved? An eye wouldn\'t have any use until it is almost fully functional. So why would it continue to evolve through countless generations if it provided no advantage to the creature to avoid a predator or find a mate?
SAW1967
Well, PizzaEater, had you spent 5 minutes searching Google, you would know that we understand very well how the eye evolved from a primitive neural pit to the still fairly primitive visual system that we have today. And you would be able to see examples of more primitive visual systems that still exist in animals today. And you would also see examples of visual systems more sophisticated than ours that ALSO exist in animals today. And then you would surely ask the more sophisticated question, \"If the eye didn\'t evolve, why is it is so limited, flawed, and prone to failure?\"
PizzaEater
@SAW, The more sophisticated question should be \"If the eye DID evolve, why is it so prone to failure?\" If it has Evolved, and not DEvolved, it should be perfect by now. Anyone with a background in science knows entropy tends to make things go from organized to disorganized. It\'s the 3 law of thermodynamics.
MK23666
Then wouldn't that mean the eyes of animals that are better than humans today were even better way back when we were allegedly perfect?
Ralf Biernacki
The article starts with the news that "a better understanding of color vision has been gained".
But if you read on, no understanding has been gained; some scientists out there /expect/ that the new electrode that they have developed will provide data that they /hope/ may contribute to a deeper understanding.
Someone here is counting their chicks before they're hatched.