How the eye talks to the brain's attention center
Visual signaling from retina to superior colliculus
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES · NIH-11332538
This work maps the kinds of visual signals the eye sends to a brain area that helps control attention and decisions, using rats and monkeys.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11332538 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
From my perspective, scientists will trace which retinal nerve cells connect to the superior colliculus and record how those cells respond to visual scenes. They will use viral tracing tools and physiological recordings in rats and rhesus monkeys to identify different retinal ganglion cell types and the signals they carry. By comparing rodents and primates, researchers hope to find which pathways are shared and which are specialized for primate vision. The goal is to understand how retinal input shapes attention-related brain activity.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This grant does not enroll patients; its findings may be most relevant later to people with attention disorders such as ADHD or autism when translational work follows.
Not a fit: People seeking immediate treatments or clinical care will not directly benefit because the work uses animal models and basic laboratory experiments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could clarify basic brain pathways that underlie attention and decision-making and point to new targets for future treatments for attention-related disorders.
How similar studies have performed: Anatomical tracing and physiological recording have successfully mapped retinal inputs to other brain regions, but detailed cross-species mapping of retinal ganglion cell types to the superior colliculus—especially in primates—remains relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES — LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: FIELD, GREGORY DARIN — UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES
- Study coordinator: FIELD, GREGORY DARIN
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 below.
Conditions: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, Autistic Disorder