How losing vision at different ages affects brain connections and behavior.
Official title: Cross-modal plasticity after the loss of vision at two early developmental ages in the posterior parietal cortex: Adult connections, cortical function and behavior.
Funded at University of California at Davis · NIH-10932158 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how losing vision early in life affects the brain's ability to adapt and change, using short-tailed opossums to see how the age of becoming blind influences their brain connections and how they use their other senses, like hearing and touch, to cope.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California at Davis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Davis, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $41,819 |
| NIH project number | 5F31EY034400-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10932158 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who have experienced vision loss at different developmental stages, particularly children and adults.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not experienced vision loss or those with other unrelated neurological conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how the loss of vision during early development influences the brain's ability to adapt and reorganize itself, particularly in the posterior parietal cortex. By examining the brain of short-tailed opossums that have undergone bilateral enucleation, the study aims to understand how the age at which blindness occurs affects the brain's connectivity and response properties. The research will explore the relationship between these changes and the compensatory behaviors that arise from other sensory systems, such as hearing and touch. This could provide insights into how the brain compensates for sensory loss and how these adaptations vary with age.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved therapeutic strategies for individuals who experience vision loss, enhancing their quality of life through better understanding of sensory compensation.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown that early sensory loss can lead to significant brain reorganization, indicating that this research builds on established findings in the field.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California at Davis
Davis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pineda, Carlos Rodrigo — University of California at Davis
- Study coordinator: Pineda, Carlos Rodrigo
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.