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A contact lens on the bathroom floor, an escaped hamster in the backyard, a car key in a bed of gravel: How are we able to focus so sharply to find that proverbial needle in a haystack? UC Berkeley scientists have discovered that when we embark on a targeted search, various visual and non-visual regions of the brain mobilize to track down a person, animal or thing.
Tag: vision
Physics Nobelist and biotech pioneer Donald Glaser dies at 86
March 1, 2013:
Donald Glaser, a Nobel-prize winning physicist who reinvented himself as a biotech pioneer and later dove into the field of neurobiology, died in his sleep Thursday morning, Feb. 28, at his home in Berkeley. Glaser, a professor emeritus of physics and of molecular and cell biology, was 86.
Scientists construct first map of how the brain organizes everything we see
December 19, 2012:
Our eyes may be our window to the world, but how do we make sense of the thousands of images that flood our retinas each day? UC Berkeley scientists have found that the brain is wired to put in order all the categories of objects and actions that we see. They have created the first interactive map of how the brain organizes these groupings.
Eye proteins have germ-killing power, could lead to new antimicrobial drugs, study finds
September 24, 2012:
When it comes to germ-busting power, the eyes have it, according to a UC Berkeley discovery that could lead to new, inexpensive antimicrobial drugs. Researchers found that small fragments of keratin protein in the eye play a key role in warding off pathogens.
Chemical makes blind mice see
July 25, 2012:
Neuroscientists have synthesized a chemical that, when injected into the eyes of genetically blind mice, makes their retinas light sensitive. A newer version of the chemical, now undergoing tests, has better attributes and holds promise for treating retinitis pigmentosa and other degenerative eye diseases.
Is there a sight-saving diet?
December 13, 2011:
Many nutrients and supplements are promoted as ways to preserve vision in healthy people and prevent age-related macular degeneration and/or cataracts. The UC Berkeley Wellness Letter looks at research findings on the most commonly recommended eye-health aids.
Scientists use brain imaging to reveal the movies in our mind
September 22, 2011:
Imagine tapping into the mind of a coma patient, or watching one’s own dream on YouTube. With a cutting-edge blend of brain imaging and computer simulation, UC Berkeley scientists are bringing these futuristic scenarios within reach. Using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) and computational models, researchers have succeeded in decoding and reconstructing people’s dynamic visual experiences – in this case, watching Hollywood movie trailers.
Why the eye is better than a camera
May 3, 2011:
The human eye long ago solved a problem common to both digital and film cameras: how to get good contrast in an image while also capturing faint detail. New experiments by UC Berkeley neurobiologists show how the eye achieves this without sacrificing shadow detail.
Neural circuit ensures zebrafish will not bite off more than it can chew
October 29, 2010:
UC Berkeley neuroscientists have found that when zebrafish larvae see large objects, like leaves or other zebrafish, a large number of inhibitory nerve cells fire in the brain to tamp down a prey response. But when the larvae see small, prey-size objects, fewer inhibitory nerve cells fire and the fish quickly responds. This simple neural circuit helps explain the visual filters that enable prey capture.
