OPT 322
Ocular Neurophysiology
2 Unit(s) (LH 30)
Course Description
At the end of OPT 322 (Ocular Neurophysiology) course, the students should be able to:
1. desribe the parts of the brain responsible for vision;
2. identify several disorders relating lesions of the visual pathways;
3. Identify the mechanisms responsible for different kinds of visual outputs;
4. discuss neurophysiological and clinical assessments of visual function;
5. discuss neurophysiological and clinical aspect of edinger wesphal nucleus;
6. be acquainted with recent advances in the researches related to visual functions;
7. explain the effects of cortical and tectal lesions on eye movements;
8. discuss the clinical implications of visual evoked potential (VER) and electroretinogram (ERG);
and
9. discuss the basic physiology, functions, and clinical correlates of the cerebral cortex (including
Brodmann’s areas), limbic system, cerebellum and cranial nerves; and also, the physiological
basis and importance of pupillary light reflex and accommodation-convergence reflex.
Course Outline
Detailed function of central nervous system and its relationship with ocular structures and vision.
Neurophysiology of retina; physiology and functions of the supraretinal system; ganglion cell,
optic nerve, lateral geniculate body, visual cortex, forebrain, superior colliculus, pre-tectal and
tectal regions, cerebellum, vestibular system, inferior co1liculus. Brodmann and the 'V'
classifications of the brain. Functional mappings in the brain like colour, memory and many others.
Electroretinogram (ERG); electrophysiology of the visual system: Centre-Surrond configuration;
transient and sustained cells, X,Y,W categories; Boycott and Dowling Schema; pre-colliculus and
superior Colliculus features; Tectal Oculomotor control; Lateral geniculate physiology; striate and
pre-striate cortex (in cat and monkey); Visual input to parietal and temporal lobes; the limbic
system and prefrontal cortex; effects of cortical and tectal lesions and eye movements; Clinical
implications of visual evoked potential (VER) and Electroretinogram (ERG).