Hanse Lectures in Neurosciences - “Repurposing of retinal neurons following visual adaptation”

Dr. Michal Rivlin, Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel, head of the lab for Dynamic Computations in the Retina at the Weizmann Institute, will visit the Hanse Wissenschaftskolleg in Delmenhorst in May. She will share her latest results on the effects of visual stimulation on retinal circuits and functional specialization of retinal neurons and speaks about   “Repurposing of retinal neurons following visual adaptation”.

Abstract:
“Computations in neuronal circuits in the retina are often thought to be hard-wired and to be predicted by their anatomical organization. Surprisingly, using two-photon targeted recordings from transgenic mice, we have found that subtypes of retinal neurons are subject to change the visual property they encode (repurpose) following exposure to a short adaptive visual stimulation. Specifically, direction selective retinal ganglion cells, which encode the direction of motion in the visual field, reverse their directional preference after adaptation; and On starburst amacrine cells, which encode light onset, switch polarity and start encoding light offset. Our data suggest that visual adaptation alters the interactions between rod- and cone-mediated pathways, which triggers repurposing. These results demonstrate how the sensory environment can modify computations performed by anatomically defined neuronal circuits. ”

Lecture and discussion from 7:00 pm until approximately 8:00 pm
followed by dinner and informal discussion in the HWK Bistro.

The lecture is open to everybody, but registration is required for this event (by replying to ) so that we can order enough food for the dinner! Please also write to Marion Daniel if you would like to bring additional guests. Please reply to this email by May 18 if you would like to attend.