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  • Title: Time-dependent changes in cortical excitability after prolonged visual deprivation.
    Author: Pitskel NB, Merabet LB, Ramos-Estebanez C, Kauffman T, Pascual-Leone A.
    Journal: Neuroreport; 2007 Oct 29; 18(16):1703-7. PubMed ID: 17921872.
    Abstract:
    Transcranial magnetic stimulation applied to the occipital cortex can elicit phosphenes. Changes in the phosphene threshold provide a measure of visual cortex excitability. Phosphene threshold was measured in participants blindfolded for five consecutive days to assess the effects of prolonged visual deprivation on visual cortical excitability. After 48 h of blindfolding, an acute decrease in phosphene threshold was observed, followed by a significant increase by day 5. Phosphene threshold returned to preblindfold levels within 2 h of light re-exposure. Thus, light deprivation is characterized by a transient increase in visual cortical excitability, followed by a sustained decrease in visual cortex excitability that quickly returns to baseline levels after re-exposure to light.
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