High resolution structural and functional imaging of the visual cortex

The primary visual cortex is the cortical area that receives the input from the eyes and is the first visual area in which neurons receive input from both eyes. It can be identified functionally using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), but also structurally by the identification of a stripe of myelin running through the cortex with very high resolution imaging (Bridge et al. 2005; Bridge & Clare 2006). In addition to myelination patterns that exist in the visual cortex, there are areas of functional specialisation within visual areas that have been shown neurophysiologically. For example, the secondary visual area (V2) has "thick stripes" which are small regions of cortext that appear to have strong selectivity for disparity (depth) processing. Using the recently purchased state of the art 7 Tesla human scanner, this project will employ very high resolution imaging to investigate the structural and functional architecture of the early visual areas.

Bridge et al. (2005). Independent anatomical and functional measures of the V1/V2 boundary in human visual cortex. Journal of Vision 5:93-102.
Bridge & Clare (2006). High-resolution MRI: In vivo histology? Phil Trans R Soc B 361:137-146.