Biomed Radio - Washington University School Of Medicine In St. Louis

A team of Washington University vision researchers is the first to identify a specific type of cell in the eye that appears to be responsible for the ability to detect motion. Studying retinas in mice, the researchers identified a specific type of cell that transmits information when the retina detects moving objects. When something is moving in the visual field, those cells send signals to other cells that then transmit the information to the brain. Those signals can help mice avoid predators. For humans, understanding how those cells transmit signals may aid in the development of artificial retinas for people who cannot see. IT’S KIND OF AMAZING THAT THE EYE’S RETINA CAN DETECT AND DISTINGUISH MOVING OBJECTS IN OUR FIELD OF VISION BECAUSE OUR EYES, HEADS AND BODIES ALSO ARE MOVING. SO SOMEHOW, RETINAL CELLS HAVE TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN OUR MOVEMENTS AND THE MOVEMENTS OF OBJECTS IN THE WORLD AROUND US. AND NOW RESEARCHERS AT WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE IN ST. LOUIS HAVE IDENTIFIED A CIRCUIT IN