Grant: Project Grant

After cortical damage, brain reorganization occurs and help to restore function. In visual brain, these damages can deteriorate variable aspects of vision because the visual cortex is spatially organized in modules associated with different function: localization and identification of objects. Thus, there is a need to better understand the relationship between loss of brain regions and visual impairment to develop new therapeutic strategies. In this context, mice are particularly adapted. Our goal will be to probe the function of different cortical territories of the mouse visual cortex by using optogenetics inactivation and explore how their functions can change after stroke. Optogenetics is a new molecular engineering approach consisting of making neuron sensitive to light. After infecting brains with virus carrying a gene of a protein from a unicellular alga, neurons can be spatially and reversibly inactivated at high resolution using a transform blue light video projector. The mice will be then trained to perform visual discrimination tasks associated with localization or identification of objects. The change in performance for different visual tasks will be then quantified to identify the visual function of each region. Stroke in visual cortex will be then induced by using photocoagulation. The evolution of the visual properties of different preserved territories will be then quantified to identify change of their functions associated with the regain of visual performance lost after stroke. This project will provide a better understanding of the functional organization of mouse visual brain and will also offer a new way to test new treatment strategies.