Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Optical mapping”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,477 records · Page 82Linked to original sources

Geometry of orientation and ocular dominance columns in monkey striate cortex.

In addition to showing that ocular dominance is organized in slabs and that orientation preferences are organized in linear sequences likely to reflect slabs, Hubel and Wiesel (1974a) discussed the intriguing possibility that slabs of orientation might intersect slabs of ocular dominance at some consistent angle. Advances in optical imaging now make it possible to test this possibility directly. When maps of orientation are analyzed quantitatively, they appear to arise from a combination of at least two competing themes: one where orientation preferences change linearly along straight axes, remaining constant along perpendicular axes and forming iso-orientation slabs along the way, and one where orientation preferences change continuously along circular axes, remaining constant along radial axes and forming singularities at the centers of the spaces enclosed. When orientation patterns are compared with ocular dominance patterns from the same cortical regions, quantitative measures reveal (1) that singularities tend to lie at the centers of ocular dominance columns, (2) that linear zones (arising where orientation preferences change along straight axes) tend to lie at the edges of ocular dominance columns, and (3) that the short iso-orientation bands within each linear zone tend to intersect the borders of ocular dominance slabs at angles of approximately 90 degrees.

Animals↗

[Organization of the afferent input to the superior colliculus of the rabbit brain].

The organization of afferent input to superior colliculus was studied in unanesthetized paralyzed rabbits. Two groups of afferent fibres with the average conduction velocities 3 and 6 m per s were determined. It was found that C1 and C2 components of the evoked potential reflect postsynaptic activity of collicular neurons activated by these groups of optic nerve fibres. The existence in rabbit of direct retino-tectal input to the superior colliculus is supposed.

Animals↗

Accurate topological comparison of two recombinant human growth hormones by optical surface plasmon resonance.

A strategy for the comparison of two recombinant derived human growth hormones (r-hGH) has been developed using surface plasmon resonance (SPR). Statistical analysis was systematically used on the results obtained with several batches derived from two different Escherichia coli strains. Monoclonal antibodies (MAb) directed against four different domains in the tertiary structure of natural human growth hormone were used to compare the epitopic maps of the three (two recombinant and one natural) hGH by SPR analysis. Topological studies show the homogeneity of the epitopic maps of the three hGH. The kinetic parameters, association rate, and dissociation rate constants were also analyzed for the binding of each hGH batch to all MAbs. They were found to be homogeneous between the three hormones. Furthermore, the two r-hGH were compared by more classical approaches examining recognition of lactogenic or somatogenic receptors using, respectively, a bioassay of Nb2 cell proliferation and binding to rat liver microsomes. Specific bioactivities and IC50 values calculated in radioreceptor assays did not significantly differ between different r-hGH. The method was sensitive enough to show slight differences on koff value for one MAb (3C11) between (natural) hormone and two r-hGH. These differences are discussed in relation to previous observation made in the literature and the presence of isoforms in the natural product. The strategy developed here was very useful as a new tool to establish the equivalence of the two r-hGH.

Analysis of Variance↗

Validation of diffusion spectrum magnetic resonance imaging with manganese-enhanced rat optic tracts and ex vivo phantoms.

Diffusion spectrum imaging (DSI) has been demonstrated to resolve crossing axonal fibers by mapping the probability density function of water molecules diffusion at each voxel. However, the accuracy of DSI in defining individual fiber orientation and the validity of Fourier relation under finite gradient pulse widths are not assessed yet. We developed an ex vivo and an in vivo model to evaluate the error of DSI with gradient pulse widths being relatively short and long, respectively. The ex vivo model was a phantom comprising sheets of parallel capillaries filled with water. Sheets were stacked on each other with capillaries crossed at 45 degrees or 90 degrees. High-resolution T2-weighted images (T2WI) of the phantom served as a reference for the orientation of intersecting capillaries. In the in vivo model, manganese ions were infused into rats' optic tracts. The optic tracts were enhanced on T1-weighted images (T1WI) and served as a reference for the tract orientation. By comparing DSI with T2WI, the deviation angles between the primary orientation of diffusion spectrum and the 90 degrees and 45 degrees phantoms were 1.19 degrees +/- 4.82 degrees and -0.71 degrees +/- 4.91 degrees, respectively. By comparing DSI with the T1WI of rat optic tracts, the deviation angle between primary orientation of diffusion spectrum and optic tracts was -0.41 degrees +/- 6.18 degrees. In addition, two sequences of DSI using short and long gradient pulses were performed in a rat brain. The bias of the primary orientation between these two sequences was approximately 10 degrees. In conclusion, DSI can resolve crossing fiber orientation accurately. The effect of finite gradient pulse widths on the primary orientation is not critical.

Algorithms↗

Retinal projections in the house musk shrew, Suncus murinus, as determined by anterograde transport of WGA-HRP.

Retinal projections in the house musk shrew (Suncus murinus) were determined by the anterograde transport of wheat germ agglutinin conjugated to horseradish peroxidase (WGA-HRP). Unilateral injection of WGA-HRP into the vitreous body resulted in the terminal labeling of the optic projections in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCH), the ventral (CGLv) and dorsal (CGLd) lateral geniculate nuclei, the intergeniculate leaflet (IGL), the pretectum, the superficial layers of the superior colliculus (CS), and the dorsal terminal nucleus (DTN) of the accessory optic system (AOS). Labeling of the SCH was bilateral, with ipsilateral predominance, and covered the whole dorsoventral extent of the nucleus. Immunohistochemical studies revealed that VIP-like immunoreactive neurons and fibers were present in almost all parts of the SCH. No hypothalamic regions other than the SCH received the optic fibers. The ipsilateral projections to the CGLv, CGLd, and IGL were sparse, and a considerable number of uncrossed retinal fibers were found in the pretectal olivary nucleus. No retinal projections to the lateral posterior thalamic nucleus (LP) were found. Ipsilateral optic fibers projected sparsely to the medial part of the CS. The AOS consisted of a small DTN with a very few crossed retinal projections but no lateral and medial terminal nuclei. In addition, the AOS had no inferior fascicle.

Animals↗

Spontaneous Activity as a Determinant of Axonal Connections.

To investigate the role of spontaneous retinal activity in map refinement, we studied goldfish kept in darkness during regeneration of a cut optic nerve. In one experiment, such fish (with lenses ablated to blur vision) were maintained for 70 days in stroboscopic light, diurnal light, or total darkness interrupted daily by 15 minutes of stroboscopic light. The retinotectal projection was then assessed for retinotopy by standard methods, using retrograde transport of wheat germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase. As in previous work, significantly more refinement was found in diurnal than in stroboscopic light. In darkness, refinement was as complete as in diurnal light. In a second experiment, similar fish were kept in stroboscopic light for 63 days. Some were then assessed to confirm that refinement had been delayed, while others were transferred to darkness or diurnal light for assessment later. After 7 days in either environment, no further refinement was seen; but after 21 days, substantial and significant refinement has occurred in both. Thus the effects of darkness and diurnal light were indistinguishable, and very different from those of stroboscopic light and (in previous studies) tetrodotoxin. Map refinement is evidently activity-dependent but not experience-dependent, and can effectively use the correlated spontaneous firing of neighbouring ganglion cells as its basis. Locally correlated spontaneous activity, which appears also to drive eye- and class-specific axon segregation in mammals, occurs widely in the nervous system. It could potentially generate systematic interconnection patterns even between neuronal populations without an overtly topographic organization.

Journal Article↗

Circuit elements at optical frequencies: nanoinductors, nanocapacitors, and nanoresistors.

We present the concept of circuit nanoelements in the optical domain using plasmonic and nonplasmonic nanoparticles. Three basic circuit elements, i.e., nanoinductors, nanocapacitors, and nanoresistors, are discussed in terms of small nanostructures with different material properties. Coupled nanoscale circuits and parallel and series combinations are also envisioned, which may provide road maps for the synthesis of more complex circuits in the IR and visible bands. Ideas for the optical implementation of right-handed and left-handed nanotransmission lines are also forecasted.

Journal Article↗

Topography of primary visual centres in the brain of the chick, Gallus gallus.

In a previous paper (Ehrlich and Mark, '83b) the primary visual centres of the chick were described. In this paper patterns of retinotopy are examined by means of silver degeneration and autoradiographic techniques following discrete laser lesions of the retina. Well-defined and complete retinotopic maps are found in each of the following visual centres: tectum, lateral anterior thalamus, lateroventral geniculate nucleus, superficial synencephalic nucleus, ectomammillary nucleus, and tectal grey. In the dorsolateral anterior thalamus, pars lateralis, and external nucleus there is some evidence of a retinotopic innervation, yet not as well defined as those nuclei mentioned previously. Retinotopic maps were not observed in other retinorecipient regions. These include the ventrolateral thalamus, dorsolateral anterior thalamus, magnocellular part and rostrolateral part, pretectal optic area, and diffuse pretectal nucleus. Within the lateroventral geniculate, lateral anterior thalamus, superficial synencephalic nuclei, and the tectal grey, the ventral to dorsal retinal axis is mapped along the rostrocaudal axis, the reverse of the orientation seen in the tectum, which may have implications for explanations of how retinotopic maps are formed. The poor retinotopy n dorsolateral anterior thalamus, lateral part, is discussed with respect to the view that it may be the avian homologue of the mammalian lateral geniculate nucleus.

Animals↗

Localization of optic tectal input to the ventral dendrite of the goldfish Mauthner cell.

Although visually evoked Mauthner cell (M-cell) startle responses occur in the goldfish, the afferent projections underlying these reactions have not been previously studied. We have recorded from the M-cell while stimulating the left optic nerve and/or right optic tectum and have traced projections of the optic nerve and restricted areas of the optic tectum using HRP histochemistry and autoradiography. Tectal stimulation elicits similar postsynaptic potentials (PSPs) in both M-cells. The responses recorded in the right (ipsilateral) cell were localized to its ventral dendrite. The existence of uncrossed tectal projections to the ventral dendrite was confirmed morphologically following application of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) to the optic tectum. The PSPs contained both inhibitory and excitatory components, but with adequate stimulus strength, excitation of either M-cell dominated. Thus, this pathway is probably sufficient to trigger visually evoked startle responses mediated by the M-cell. Stimulation of the left optic nerve also evoked PSPs capable of bringing both M-cells to threshold. The blockage of this response by conditioning stimulation of the right tectum suggests that the visual information is relayed to the M-cells through this structure. In support of these findings, no label was found near any portion of the M-cell after either intraocular injection of tritiated proline or application of HRP to the cut end of the optic nerve. In summary, visual input to the M-cell is mediated via projections from the tectum, is segregated onto the ventral dendrite, and is capable of bringing this neuron to threshold. This pathway presumably accounts for the demonstrated behavioral efficacy of visual stimuli in evoking a startle response.

Animals↗

Activation of the isthmo-optic neurons by the visual Wulst stimulation.

The visual Wulst (VW) in the avian telencephalon is thought to be an avian equivalent of the mammalian striate cortex. Effects of electrical stimulation of VW were studied in the isthmo-optic nucleus (ION) of the Japanese quail by extracellular recording. Most ION neurons examined were activated by VW stimulation, and their response latencies ranged from 12 to 27 ms (mean +/- S.D. = 17 +/- 4 ms, n = 67). Thus, this study suggested that the avian 'visual cortex' could modulate some retinal function through the ION neurons.

Animals↗

Binaural tuning of auditory units in the forebrain archistriatal gaze fields of the barn owl: local organization but no space map.

We identified a region in the archistriatum of the barn owl forebrain that contains neurons sensitive to auditory stimuli. Nearly all of these neurons are tuned for binaural localization cues. The archistriatum is known to be the primary source of motor-related output from the avian forebrain and, in barn owls, contributes to the control of gaze, much like the frontal eye fields in monkeys. The auditory region is located in the medial portion of the archistriatum, at the level of the anterior commissure, and is within the region of the archistriatum from which head saccades can be elicited by electrical microstimulation (see preceding companion article, Knudsen et al., 1995). Free-field measurements revealed that auditory sites have large, spatial receptive fields. However, within these large receptive fields, responses are tuned sharply for sound source location. Dichotic measurements showed that auditory sites are tuned broadly for frequency and that the majority are tuned to particular values of interaural time differences and interaural level differences, the principal cues used by barn owls for sound localization. The tuning of sites to these binaural cues is essentially independent of sound level. The auditory properties of units in the medial archistriatum are similar to those of units in the optic tectum, a structure that also contributes to gaze control. Unlike the optic tectum, however, the auditory region of the archistriatum does not contain a single, continuous auditory map of space. Instead, it is organized into dorsoventral clusters of sites with similar binaural (spatial) tuning. The different representations of auditory space in closely related structures in the forebrain (archistriatum) and midbrain (optic tectum) probably reflect the fact that the forebrain contributes to a wide variety of sensorimotor tasks more complicated than gaze control.

Acoustic Stimulation↗

Topographic refinement of the goldfish retinotectal projection: sensitivity to stroboscopic light at different periods during optic nerve regeneration.

When the severed optic nerve of a goldfish regenerates, the restored retinotectal projection is at first only grossly topographic. Refinement occurs later, by a mechanism that is thought to depend on correlation in the electrical activity of neighbouring retinal ganglion cells because it can be blocked by exposure to tetrodotoxin or diffuse stroboscopic (strobe) light. To study the sensitivity of retinotectal map refinement to strobe light at different periods during regeneration, four equivalent groups of goldfish with severed right optic nerves and ablated right lenses were interchanged, at 21 day intervals, between strobe (S) and diurnal (D) light to generate four different exposure sequences. After 84 days, a localized iontophoretic injection of WGA-HRP was made into each left tectum to label retinal ganglion cells with terminal arbors at the injection site, and the degree of clustering of the labelled cells was estimated statistically to assess map refinement. Retinae exposed to the sequences SDDS, SSDD or DSSD were broadly similar to each other and to those seen previously after exposure for similar total periods to diurnal light, constant light or strobe light with the lens in place. However, those kept in diurnal light for the first 42 days and in strobe light thereafter (DDSS) revealed significantly less refinement, equivalent to that seen previously after just 42-44 days in diurnal light. Thus diffuse strobe light itself neither sharpens nor unsharpens the regenerated map: its immediate effect seems only to be the indefinite postponement of whatever refinement would otherwise have occurred.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

A theoretical study of intraocular lens tilt and decentration on perceptual image quality.

Maps of perceptual image quality were generated for a range of intraocular (IOL) tilts and decentrations, using a perceptually based metric i.e. the square integral (SQRI) metric. Maps were generated for a well-corrected eye, and for hyperopic (-0.1 mm) and myopic (+0.1 mm) image planes (for 2 and 4 mm pupils). These perceptually based results were compared with a standard optical measure (i.e. the equivalent SQRI for given spectacle power added at the cornea). The image quality changes in maps were small, but detectable (exceeding the perceptual just noticeable difference (jnd) or 1 jnd threshold). Clockwise (negative) tilt combined with decenter fell below the 'contrast reserve' modulation transfer functions (MTFs) for 0.25 and 0.5 D defocus, 4 mm pupil. These errors were larger than those found previously, probably because of the shape-factor of the IOL used. Pupil size contributed the largest drop in SQRI value, followed by clockwise tilt combined with decenter. Anticlockwise tilt with decenter produced image quality improvements for the hyperopic eye. Spot diagrams confirmed defocus and the balance of coma-like aberration and astigmatism as causes of the changes in SQRI values. The SQRI maps conveniently summarize imaging, and may be a useful tool in assessing image quality in eye modelling applications.

Computer Simulation↗

A self-organizing neural network architecture for navigation using optic flow.

This article describes a self-organizing neural network architecture that transforms optic flow and eye position information into representations of heading, scene depth, and moving object locations. These representations are used to navigate reactively in simulations involving obstacle avoidance and pursuit of a moving target. The network's weights are trained during an action-perception cycle in which self-generated eye and body movements produce optic flow information, thus allowing the network to tune itself without requiring explicit knowledge of sensor geometry. The confounding effect of eye movement during translation is suppressed by learning the relationship between eye movement outflow commands and the optic flow signals that they induce. The remaining optic flow field is due to only observer translation and independent motion of objects in the scene. A self-organizing feature map categorizes normalized translational flow patterns, thereby creating a map of cells that code heading directions. Heading information is then recombined with translational flow patterns in two different ways to form maps of scene depth and moving object locations. Most of the learning processes take place concurrently and evolve through unsupervised learning. Mapping the learned heading representations onto heading labels or motor commands requires additional structure. Simulations of the network verify its performance using both noise-free and noisy optic flow information.

Computer Simulation↗

Topographical and chemical microanalysis of surfaces with a scanning probe microscope and laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

Spatially resolved chemical imaging is achieved by combining a fiber-optic scanning probe microscope with laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy in a single instrument, TOPOLIBS. Elemental composition of surfaces can be mapped and correlated with topographical data. The experiment is conducted in air with minimal sample preparation. In a typical experiment, surface topography is analyzed by scanning a sharp fiber-optic probe across the sample using shear force feedback. The probe is then positioned over a feature of interest and pulsed radiation is delivered to the surface using a nitrogen laser. The pulse vaporizes material from the surface and generates a localized plasma plume. Optical emission from the plume is analyzed with a compact UV/visible spectrometer. Ablation crater size is controlled by the amount of laser power coupled into the probe. Sampling areas with submicrometer dimensions are achieved by using reduced laser power.

Journal Article↗

Spatio-temporal patterns of neuronal activity: analysis of optical imaging data using geometric shape matching.

Optical imaging of neuronal network activity yields information of spatial dynamics which generally is analyzed visually. The transient appearance of spatial activity patterns is difficult to gauge in a quantifiable manner, or may even altogether escape detection. Here, we employ geometric shape matching using Fréchet distances or straight skeletons to search for pre-selected patterns in optical imaging data with adjustable degrees of tolerance. Data were sampled from fluorescence changes of a voltage-sensitive dye recorded with a 464-photodiode array. Fluorescence was monitored in a neuronal network in vitro. Neuronal activity prompting fluorescence fluctuations consisted of spontaneous epileptiform discharges in neocortical slices from patients undergoing epilepsy surgery. The experiments show that: (a) spatial activity patterns can be detected in optical imaging data; (b) shapes such as "mini-foci" appear in close correlation to bioelectric discharges monitored with field potential electrodes in a reproducible manner; (c) Fréchet distances yield more conservative matches regarding rectangular, and less conservative hits with respect to radially symmetric shapes than the straight skeleton approach; and (d) tolerances of 0.03-0.1 are suited to detect faithful images of pre-selected shapes, whereas values >0.8 will report matches with any polygonal pattern. In conclusion, the methods reported here are suited to detect and analyze spatial, geometric dynamics in optical imaging data.

Algorithms↗

Compartment-resolved imaging of activity-dependent dynamics of cortical blood volume and oximetry.

Optical imaging, positron emission tomography, and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) all rely on vascular responses to image neuronal activity. Although these imaging techniques are used successfully for functional brain mapping, the detailed spatiotemporal dynamics of hemodynamic events in the various microvascular compartments have remained unknown. Here we used high-resolution optical imaging in area 18 of anesthetized cats to selectively explore sensory-evoked cerebral blood-volume (CBV) changes in the various cortical microvascular compartments. To avoid the confounding effects of hematocrit and oximetry changes, we developed and used a new fluorescent blood plasma tracer and combined these measurements with optical imaging of intrinsic signals at a near-isosbestic wavelength for hemoglobin (565 nm). The vascular response began at the arteriolar level, rapidly spreading toward capillaries and venules. Larger veins lagged behind. Capillaries exhibited clear blood-volume changes. Arterioles and arteries had the largest response, whereas the venous response was smallest. Information about compartment-specific oxygen tension dynamics was obtained in imaging sessions using 605 nm illumination, a wavelength known to reflect primarily oximetric changes, thus being more directly related to electrical activity than CBV changes. Those images were radically different: the response began at the parenchyma level, followed only later by the other microvascular compartments. These results have implications for the modeling of fMRI responses (e.g., the balloon model). Furthermore, functional maps obtained by imaging the capillary CBV response were similar but not identical to those obtained using the early oximetric signal, suggesting the presence of different regulatory mechanisms underlying these two hemodynamic processes.

Animals↗