June 2017
Volume 17, Issue 7
Open Access
OSA Fall Vision Meeting Abstract  |   June 2017
Human visual cortex responds to isolated melanopsin-directed stimulation
Journal of Vision June 2017, Vol.17, 20. doi:https://doi.org/10.1167/17.7.20
  • Views
  • Share
  • Tools
    • Alerts
      ×
      This feature is available to authenticated users only.
      Sign In or Create an Account ×
    • Get Citation

      Manuel Spitschan, Andrew S. Bock, Giulia Frazzetta, David H. Brainard, Geoffrey K. Aguirre; Human visual cortex responds to isolated melanopsin-directed stimulation. Journal of Vision 2017;17(7):20. https://doi.org/10.1167/17.7.20.

      Download citation file:


      © ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)

      ×
  • Supplements
Abstract

Melanopsin is expressed in a subset of retinal ganglion cells and mediates non-image-forming responses to light. It is unknown whether melanopsin contributes to conscious vision. We obtained fMRI data from four subjects who viewed spectral pulses that selectively targeted either melanopsin or the cones (3 sec, cosine windowed, 5 contrasts between 25% to 400%; separate backgrounds used for melanopsin and cone-directed stimuli to maximize available contrast; melanopsin background: 110 cd/m2, 3.39 log10 scotopic Trolands). The melanopsin and cone-directed stimuli evoke distinct pupil light responses. Melanopsin-directed stimulation produces fMRI responses in the visual cortex larger than can be easily explained by imperfections in cone silencing. Both melanopsin and cone-directed stimuli produce monotonic contrast-response functions. We find evidence that melanopsin-directed stimulation produces a more temporally extended fMRI response, consistent with known properties of the melanopsin-containing RGCs.

Meeting abstract presented at the 2016 OSA Fall Vision Meeting

×
×

This PDF is available to Subscribers Only

Sign in or purchase a subscription to access this content. ×

You must be signed into an individual account to use this feature.

×