Academic Journal
Rapid fine-scale sensorimotor plasticity in human foveal vision.
| Title: | Rapid fine-scale sensorimotor plasticity in human foveal vision. |
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| Authors: | Moon B; The Institute of Optics, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA; Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA., Prahalad KS; Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA; Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA., Clark AM; Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA; Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA., Roorda A; Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA., Tiruveedhula P; Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA., Harmening W; Department of Ophthalmology, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, Bonn 53127, Germany., Gutnikov A; Department of Ophthalmology, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, Bonn 53127, Germany., Jenks SK; Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA; Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA., Kapisthalam S; Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA; Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA., Rucci M; Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA; Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA., Rolland JP; The Institute of Optics, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA; Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA; Biomedical Engineering Department, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA., Poletti M; Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA; Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA; Department of Neuroscience, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA. Electronic address: martina_poletti@urmc.rochester.edu. |
| Source: | Current biology : CB [Curr Biol] 2026 Aug 17; Vol. 36 (16), pp. R902-R903. |
| Publication Type: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Journal Info: | Publisher: Cell Press Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 9107782 Publication Model: Print Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1879-0445 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 09609822 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Curr Biol Subsets: MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Publication: Cambridge, MA : Cell Press Original Publication: London, UK : Current Biology Ltd., c1991- |
| MeSH Terms: | Fovea Centralis*/physiology , Vision, Ocular*/physiology , Visual Perception*/physiology , Neuronal Plasticity*, Fixation, Ocular/physiology ; Scotoma/physiopathology ; Humans ; Female |
| Abstract: | The foveola is the most important region of the human retina, yet little is known about how the visuomotor system responds to subtle visual disruptions in this region. Using an Adaptive Optics Scanning Light Ophthalmoscope (AOSLO) for high-resolution retinal imaging and retinal-contingent stimulation, we show that even a minute foveolar scotoma (≈0.03 degrees2) produces measurable perceptual deficits and triggers fine-scale reorganization of fixation behavior. Observers, without explicit reports of awareness of the loss, rapidly adopt new preferred retinal loci shifted by ≈5 arcmin to bring stimuli into a visible region. These loci fall in regions of lower cone density than neighboring regions, suggesting that fixation control is not solely determined by sampling efficiency and involves trade-offs between sensory and motor factors. These findings uncover a fine scale visuomotor plasticity and suggest oculomotor biomarkers for detecting early retinal disease before symptoms emerge. (Copyright © 2026 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.) |
| Competing Interests: | Declaration of interests The authors declare no competing interests. |
| Grant Information: | P30 EY001319 United States EY NEI NIH HHS; R01 EY018363 United States EY NEI NIH HHS; R01 EY029788 United States EY NEI NIH HHS |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20260817 Date Completed: 20260817 Latest Revision: 20261024 |
| Update Code: | 20261024 |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.cub.2026.06.054 |
| PMID: | 42607650 |
| Database: | MEDLINE |
| ISSN: | 1879-0445 |
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| DOI: | 10.1016/j.cub.2026.06.054 |