Spatial summation properties for magnocellular and parvocellular pathways in glaucoma. 2009

Josephine Battista, and David R Badcock, and Allison M McKendrick
Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.

OBJECTIVE To examine the spatial summation properties for the magnocellular (M) and parvocellular (P) visual pathways in participants with glaucoma and approximately age-matched controls in central and midperipheral retinal eccentricities. METHODS Contrast discrimination thresholds were measured for six different stimulus array sizes, using steady- and pulsed-pedestal paradigms designed to measure function of the M and P pathways, respectively. This study involved 15 participants with glaucoma and 17 approximately age-matched controls. All participants completed trials foveally and at 12.5 degrees eccentricity. The peripheral stimulus location for each glaucoma participant was within a quadrant of early visual field loss, and locations were matched for the control group. RESULTS The glaucoma group demonstrated significantly elevated thresholds compared with the control group (F((1,30)) = 16.29; P < 0.001). Thresholds were also significantly dependent on the stimulus sizes, testing location, and pedestal condition. Data obtained for the steady-pedestal paradigm were fit with an exponential decay function, whereas the pulsed-pedestal data were fit with a linear function, demonstrating different spatial summation properties for the M and P pathways, consistent with previous studies using this methodology. Analyses of the curve parameters obtained from the curve fits indicated no significant difference in the shape of the curves between glaucoma and control participants. CONCLUSIONS Although spatial summation properties are different for presumed M- and P-mediated pathways, the underlying spatial summation properties associated with these pathways are similar in the control and glaucoma participants in this study, centrally and midperipherally.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D005902 Glaucoma, Open-Angle Glaucoma in which the angle of the anterior chamber is open and the trabecular meshwork does not encroach on the base of the iris. Glaucoma Simplex,Glaucoma, Pigmentary,Glaucoma, Simple,Open-Angle Glaucoma,Chronic Primary Open Angle Glaucoma,Glaucoma, Compensated,Glaucoma, Compensative,Glaucoma, Open Angle,Glaucoma, Primary Open Angle,Glaucoma, Secondary Open Angle,Primary Open Angle Glaucoma,Secondary Open Angle Glaucoma,Compensated Glaucoma,Compensative Glaucoma,Open Angle Glaucoma,Open Angle Glaucomas,Open-Angle Glaucomas,Pigmentary Glaucoma,Simple Glaucoma,Simplex, Glaucoma,Simplices, Glaucoma
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000368 Aged A person 65 years of age or older. For a person older than 79 years, AGED, 80 AND OVER is available. Elderly
D000369 Aged, 80 and over Persons 80 years of age and older. Oldest Old
D012165 Retinal Ganglion Cells Neurons of the innermost layer of the retina, the internal plexiform layer. They are of variable sizes and shapes, and their axons project via the OPTIC NERVE to the brain. A small subset of these cells act as photoreceptors with projections to the SUPRACHIASMATIC NUCLEUS, the center for regulating CIRCADIAN RHYTHM. Cell, Retinal Ganglion,Cells, Retinal Ganglion,Ganglion Cell, Retinal,Ganglion Cells, Retinal,Retinal Ganglion Cell
D012684 Sensory Thresholds The minimum amount of stimulus energy necessary to elicit a sensory response. Sensory Threshold,Threshold, Sensory,Thresholds, Sensory
D014792 Visual Acuity Clarity or sharpness of OCULAR VISION or the ability of the eye to see fine details. Visual acuity depends on the functions of RETINA, neuronal transmission, and the interpretative ability of the brain. Normal visual acuity is expressed as 20/20 indicating that one can see at 20 feet what should normally be seen at that distance. Visual acuity can also be influenced by brightness, color, and contrast. Acuities, Visual,Acuity, Visual,Visual Acuities
D014794 Visual Fields The total area or space visible in a person's peripheral vision with the eye looking straightforward. Field, Visual,Fields, Visual,Visual Field
D014795 Visual Pathways Set of cell bodies and nerve fibers conducting impulses from the eyes to the cerebral cortex. It includes the RETINA; OPTIC NERVE; optic tract; and geniculocalcarine tract. Pathway, Visual,Pathways, Visual,Visual Pathway

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