Prof. Dr. Tim Gollisch (left) and Dr. Dimokratis Karamanlis (right), Department of Ophthalmology at the University Medical Center Göttingen (UMG). Photo: Mohammad Khani

Nerve cells in the eye work together to recognise contrasts and movements

Researchers at the University Medical Center Göttingen (UMG) have discovered that nerve cells in the eye often process natural visual stimuli from the environment together in cell groups and in a coordinated manner. The coordinated co-operation of nerve cells enhances signal transmission in scenes with high contrast and movement. These findings could help to improve the treatment of blindness. The results have been published in the renowned scientific journal ‘Nature’.
 
‘This coordinated cooperation between the nerve cells could help the brain to distinguish between particularly relevant optical signals, such as for recognising contrast or movement, and other less important influences such as changes in brightness, for example when a cloud moves in front of the sun and it becomes darker as a result. On the other hand, the cell groups appear to ensure energy efficiency by reacting particularly quickly to corresponding sensory stimuli,’ says MBExC member Prof. Dr. Tim Gollisch, last author of the study.
 
Link to the UMG press release (in German)