Retinotopic mapping of the visual cortex using functional magnetic resonance imaging in a patient with central scotomas from atrophic macular degeneration☆
Portions of this article were presented at: Macula Society Annual Meeting, February 27, 2003; Naples, Florida, and Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Annual Meeting, May 8, 2003; Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Received 13 June 2003; accepted 6 December 2003.
Abstract
Purpose
To describe retinotopic mapping of the visual cortex when a central scotoma is present.
Design
Single observational case report.
Methods
Scanning laser ophthalmoscope perimetry was used to define the site and stability of fixation and the area of dense scotoma. Functional magnetic resonance imaging of the visual cortex was performed while the patient viewed an expanding annular stimulus.
Results
Retinotopic mapping of the visual cortex for a patient with a horseshoe scotoma from geographic atrophy involving the macular region showed a loss of stimulation to the cortical areas representing the site of the atrophic lesion.
Conclusions
Cortical retinotopic mapping can be performed successfully in patients with central scotomas from macular disease. This study can serve as a basis for the future investigation of cortical plasticity in visual cortex.
1Lions Vision Center of the Wilmer Ophthalmologic Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
2Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
Correspondence to Janet S. Sunness, MD, 550 North Broadway, 6th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
Supported in part by the Research to Prevent Blindness (New York, New York) Physician Scientist Merit Award (JSS); an institutional research grant of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland; and the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland (grant no.: R03 EY14148).
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