Non-uniform distribution of the NMDAR1 receptor subunit in kitten visual cortex at the peak of the critical period.

PURPOSE: The development of columnar systems in the visual cortex, in particular ocular dominance columns, is dependent on experiential activity in conjunction with NMDA-mediated plasticity mechanisms. Recent experiments, however, have shown that certain aspects of the columnar organization of the visual cortex, such as the spacing of columns, are not changed by manipulations that affect the pattern of retinal activity. This raises the …