Targeting and Repairing Genes: Breakthroughs in Treating Eye Diseases
Many times, the purpose of vision research is to identify genes that cause diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration and Leber Congenital Amaurosis, and then either stop the gene from causing damage or fix the troublesome gene entirely. Two research projects are focused on just that and the results are promising. Scientists from the lab […]
Insects and Circadian Rhythm
It is no secret that the eye and the brain work together for both vision and regulating the circadian rhythm. Yet, what is going on at the cellular level and deep within the brain that allows for vision and the sleep/wake cycle to work correctly. Well, as you can guess research is taking place in […]
Evolution, Circadian Rhythm & How They Relate to the Eye
The eye is like a security camera that captures images that are both at rest and in motion. From our eyes, images travel through the retina and go to the brain. This information allows us to perform a myriad of tasks from reading, creating a meal to navigating from Point A to Point B. In […]
The Novel & The Familiar
Have you ever wondered what happens in our brains that allows us not only to see, but also to recognize what is familiar and novel? Scientists have pondered this question, as well. Two research projects have studied this, and here is what scientists have learned. How Vision Contributes Working Memory Working memory involves briefly retaining […]
Insights into Attention and Memory: Understanding the Science Behind Focus
I remember my elementary school teachers admonishing my classmates and me not to watch television while we did our homework. The reasons given were: 1) We ended up paying more attention to the program than our homework. Of course, there were those who did their homework during the commercial breaks. 2) Our homework ended up […]
The Science of Seeing: Unraveling Human Vision & Primate Color Perception
Call us biased, but we think vision is very cool. The images that our eye sees are encoded as visual information in the brain and the images enable us to see, navigate and learn. No wonder the eyes are considered the front of the brain, and biomedical research is uncovering different aspects of vision that […]
How the Eyes & Brain Work Together Regarding Recognition & Memory
It has been said that the eyes are the front of the brain and considering how up to 80 percent of what we know comes via vision, it is important that they are both in working order. How does the brain work when it comes to memory and perception. What about after a traumatic injury? […]
What’s Going on When it Comes to Brains & Vision?
What is going on in the cellular space and the neurological space that allows us to see? As you can guess scientists have studied these things and here are what they have found. Stem Cells There have been great advancements in the development of lab-grown photoreceptors. The problem lies in implanting them. Once they are […]
Cognitive Function and The Eyes Part One
It has been said that the eyes are the front of the brain, especially since 80 percent of learning takes place via what we see. How does that happen and is it possible to utilize retinal imaging to diagnose age-related brain disorders? As always, researchers are studying these things and this is what was found […]
Optical Illusions
Optical illusions are intriguing and sometimes baffling. In the 1990s “Magic Eye” pictures were everywhere, from mall kiosks to the back of cereal boxes. The “Magic Eye” were pictures that were distorted in such a way that a 3D image would over time appear to the viewer. The image never appeared to me, no matter […]