Topic: pupillary constriction

Sharp changes in ambient luminance are known to modulate the size of the pupil, regulating the amount of light that enters the eye and reaches the retina. This process, known as pupillary light reflex (PLR), allows the retina to rapidly adapt to different luminance conditions. While PLR has been widely characterized in terms of its neural underpinnings as well as its clinical and behavioral significance, one simple question is still pending: does PLR directly modulate the output of the retina? To answer this question, we performed in vivo 2-photons calcium imaging in retinal ganglion cells (RG

Bright lights cause us to wake up, unexpected colors divert our attention and threatening creatures trigger a flight response. These instinctual processes in response to visual cues are robust during wakefulness. However, since the study of visual processes of the sleeping brain has been limited by the closed eyelids, we do not know what neuronal activity these stimuli trigger during sleep. Using sleep compatible virtual reality goggles, we aimed to investigate which visual functions persisted during NREM sleep in humans sleeping with eyes open. Here we designed a series of experiments to elic