Abstract
AT about ten days of age when a kitten's eyes open, synaptic connections of its visual system are partly laid down1. They are completely developed during the sensitive period2 which lasts from about three weeks of age to three months. During this period of plasticity the formation and modification of synaptic connections respond to features in the visual environment3–6. Both the original and subsequently developed connections may be disrupted or modified by environmental factors during the sensitive or critical period with a sensitivity that peaks at about the fourth week and gradually drops off2.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Hubel, D. H., and Wiesel, T. N., J. Neurophysiol., 26, 994–1002 (1963).
Hubel, D. H., and Wiesel, T. N., J. Physiol., Lond., 206, 419–436 (1970).
Hirsch, H. V. B., and Spinelli, D. N., Science. 168, 869–871 (1970).
Blakemore, C., and Cooper, G., Nature, 223, 477–478 (1970).
Pettigrew, J. D., and Barlow, H. B., J. Physiol., Lond., 218, 98–100P (1971).
Blakemore, C., and Mitchell, D. E., Nature, 24, 467–468 (1973).
Rose, G. H., Gruneau, S., and Spencer, J. W., Electroenceph. clin. Neurophysiol., 33, 141–158 (1972).
Berkley, M. A., and Watkins, D. W., Vision Res., 13, 403–415 (1973).
Campbell, F. W., Maffei, L., and Piccolino, M., J. Physiol., Lond., 229, 719–731 (1973).
Muir, D. W., and Mitchell, D. E., Science, 180, 420–422 (1973).
Blake, R. B., Cool, S. J., and Crawford, M. L. J., Vision Res., 14, 1211–1217 (1974).
Wässle, H., Vision Res., 11, 995–1006 (1971).
Blakemore, C., Br. med. Bull., 30, 152–157 (1974).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
FREEMAN, D., MARG, E. Visual acuity development coincides with the sensitive period in kittens. Nature 254, 614–615 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1038/254614a0
Received:
Revised:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/254614a0
This article is cited by
-
Cumulative inhibition in neural networks
Cognitive Processing (2019)
-
Developmental physiological optics and visual acuity: A brief review
Experientia (1984)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.