Retinal waves prime visual motion detection by simulating future optic flow

• DOI: 10.1126/science.abd0830
• Publication Date: 2021-07-22T19:10:19Z
• Authors: Xinxin Ge; Kathy Zhang; Alexandra Gribizis; Ali S. Hamodi; Aude Martinez Sabino; Michael C. Crair
• Keywords: Retinal waves; Superior colliculus; Retinotopy

The ability to perceive and respond environmental stimuli emerges in the absence of sensory experience. Spontaneous retinal activity prior eye opening guides refinement retinotopy eye-specific segregation mammals, but its role development higher-order visual response properties remains unclear. Here, we describe a transient window neonatal mouse during which spatial propagation spontaneous waves resembles optic flow pattern generated by forward self-motion. We show that wave directionality requires same circuit components form adult direction-selective chronic disruption alters responses superior colliculus neurons. These data demonstrate how developing system patterns simulate ethologically relevant features external world thereby instruct self-organization.