About the book

The ultimate goal of many fields of neuroscience research is to harness the ability of the mammalian brain to reorganize. The ability to control cortical reorganization in the adult cortex, either by controlling existing adult mechanisms for plasticity or by reactivating mechanisms of developmental plasticity, would be a tremendous advancement in the treatment of cortical damage and neurodegenerative diseases. Consequently, the specifics of the timing and types of reorganization possible in the mammalian visual cortex, in particular, have consistently generated tremendous interest in both the scientific community and the general public. Few sources, however, provide a combined look into the plasticity of the visual cortex in both juvenile and adult mammalian brains.

While it is clear that visual representations in the mammalian cortex can undergo significant reorganization during an early critical period of development, the extent of reorganization possible in the developing visual cortex is still an area of active investigation. This dynamic nature of cortical circuitry is important for learning, as well as for repair following nervous system injury. Similarly, several aspects of the visual cortex are thought to remain plastic into adulthood, allowing cortical sensorimotor maps to be modified continuously by experience. Because studies of the extent of cortical reorganization in the adult mammalian visual cortex have at times produced quite disparate results, many pioneering studies are now attempting to address these controversial measurements.

This proposed book topic will examine our current understanding of the interplay of plasticity and stability in the developing and adult mammalian visual systems as well as our progress towards translating these fundamental research findings into updates for clinical practice.