Cortical neurons in the visual cortex of a kitten or a cat will lose the ability to respond to stimuli in one eye if the eye is sutured shut for ____.
A) the first week after birth
B) the first month of life
C) any two month period in adult life
D) the third and fourth months of life

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This phenomenon is known as ocular dominance plasticity, and it occurs during the critical period of visual development in the first few months of life. If one eye is deprived of visual stimulation during this time, the cortical neurons in the visual cortex will become dominated by the other eye, and the deprived eye will lose its ability to process visual information. This critical period ends around one month of age in kittens and cats.

Cortical Neurons in the Visual Cortex of a Kitten or a Cat