Researchers at NYU Langone have made a groundbreaking discovery about how newborns develop their vestibulo-ocular reflex, a vital brain circuit that stabilizes gaze during body tilts. The study found that this circuit matures independently of sensory input from vision or balance organs.
The researchers used zebrafish larvae to test the long-held assumption that the reflex is tuned by visual feedback. They observed that the ability of the fish to counterrotate their eyes after tilt was comparable to those that could see. Another set of experiments showed that the reflex circuit also reaches maturity without input from a gravity-sensing vestibular organ.
The study’s findings suggest that the slowest-maturing part of the brain circuit must be at the neuromuscular junction, not in the brain. This discovery has significant implications for our understanding of balance and eye movement disorders, such as strabismus.
According to Dr. David Schoppik, senior author of the study, “Discovering how vestibular reflexes come to be may help us find new ways to counter pathologies that affect balance or eye movements.” The researchers hope that their findings will lead to therapies for these conditions and improve treatment options for children with balance problems.
The study’s results have far-reaching implications for our understanding of brain development and the development of neural circuits. By exploring the role of neuromuscular junctions in the maturation of the vestibulo-ocular reflex, the researchers aim to shed light on how this circuit emerges and how it can be disrupted in disorders such as strabismus.
The research was published online January 2 in the journal Science and was conducted by a team of researchers at NYU Langone Health.
Source: https://neurosciencenews.com/gaze-visual-development-28298