Over the past two decades, advances in high-resolution functional MRI (fMRI) using ultrahigh-field scanners have begun to transform our understanding of the human brain. This approach has shifted the focus from large-scale brain networks at the population level toward the mesoscale neuronal mechanisms that underlie complex visual functions in individual subjects. In this talk, I will present our recent findings that leverage high-resolution fMRI to elucidate the organization of cortical columns within the visual system in individuals with both neurotypical and amblyopic visual development. Specifically, I will show how this technique enables us to: (a) directly visualize mesoscale neuronal ensembles such as ocular dominance columns in the primary visual cortex and thin/thick-type columns across extrastriate areas; (b) characterize the functional connectivity and spatial frequency preferences of these columnar systems; and (c) assess how developmental visual disorders, such as amblyopia, alter their functional organization. Together, these results highlight the transformative potential of next-generation neuroimaging to bridge the translational gap between invasive animal studies and noninvasive human neuroscience. This work provides novel insights into the neuronal mechanisms underlying perceptual impairments and extends our understanding of human visual processing beyond what has been achievable through animal models alone. Acknowledgment: This work was supported by the National Eye Institute (R01EY030434), National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (P41-EB030006), as well as by the MGH/HST Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging. Crucial imaging resources were made available by the NIH Shared Instrumentation Grant (S10RR019371).
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