Kristina Visscher
@visscherlab.bsky.social
Interested in neuroscience, brain dynamics, and plasticity of complex networks. Especially plasticity of long range connections important for visual processing. Especially in older brains.
Professor, UAB Neurobiology sites.uab.edu/kmv/
Professor, UAB Neurobiology sites.uab.edu/kmv/
This is a significant difference from the healthy vision controls (click to see whole image). These findings support the view that V1 retains the capacity for plasticity well beyond the 'critical period'. 8/🧵
October 22, 2025 at 7:36 PM
This is a significant difference from the healthy vision controls (click to see whole image). These findings support the view that V1 retains the capacity for plasticity well beyond the 'critical period'. 8/🧵
In patients with central vision loss, cortical representations of peripheral vision show idiosyncratic connection patterns, kind of like central vision in healthy vision control participants. But ONLY for the specific area that they use for more attention-demanding tasks (red less than blue). 7/🧵
October 22, 2025 at 7:36 PM
In patients with central vision loss, cortical representations of peripheral vision show idiosyncratic connection patterns, kind of like central vision in healthy vision control participants. But ONLY for the specific area that they use for more attention-demanding tasks (red less than blue). 7/🧵
For people who lost central vision as adults, and consequently use peripheral vision for daily attention-demanding tasks, we can define a retinal area they use frequently (Preferred Retinal Locus), and an area they don't use as frequently (Unpreferred RL) 6/🧵
October 22, 2025 at 7:36 PM
For people who lost central vision as adults, and consequently use peripheral vision for daily attention-demanding tasks, we can define a retinal area they use frequently (Preferred Retinal Locus), and an area they don't use as frequently (Unpreferred RL) 6/🧵
There is a very strong pattern where central vision representations are more idiosyncratic (less stereotyped) than peripheral representations. The similarity-to-typical-brains of the whole-brain connection patterns is higher for peripheral vision (purple) 5/🧵
October 22, 2025 at 7:36 PM
There is a very strong pattern where central vision representations are more idiosyncratic (less stereotyped) than peripheral representations. The similarity-to-typical-brains of the whole-brain connection patterns is higher for peripheral vision (purple) 5/🧵
We examined whole-brain connection patterns to these areas, comparing these whole-brain patterns to those of each of the typical controls, giving a measure of whether a pattern was 'different from typical.' We're calling that 'idiosyncratic' 4/🧵
October 22, 2025 at 7:36 PM
We examined whole-brain connection patterns to these areas, comparing these whole-brain patterns to those of each of the typical controls, giving a measure of whether a pattern was 'different from typical.' We're calling that 'idiosyncratic' 4/🧵
We took advantage of the fact that the cortical representation of central vision (which people with healthy vision use for attention-demanding work) are separable from the representations of peripheral vision (which we don't typically use for attention-demanding work). Image shows retinotopy. 3/🧵
October 22, 2025 at 7:36 PM
We took advantage of the fact that the cortical representation of central vision (which people with healthy vision use for attention-demanding work) are separable from the representations of peripheral vision (which we don't typically use for attention-demanding work). Image shows retinotopy. 3/🧵
@andrewhardaway.bsky.social gave a spectacular talk on Saturday to a packed house at the Avondale Library! Such a great discussion about the neuroscience and long path of research toward GLP-1 weight loss medications!
June 9, 2025 at 6:07 PM
@andrewhardaway.bsky.social gave a spectacular talk on Saturday to a packed house at the Avondale Library! Such a great discussion about the neuroscience and long path of research toward GLP-1 weight loss medications!
Thanks for sharing, Andrew! And thanks also for your SPECTACULAR public talk on saturday about GLP-1. So AWESOME!
June 9, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Thanks for sharing, Andrew! And thanks also for your SPECTACULAR public talk on saturday about GLP-1. So AWESOME!
Brain Chats is every first Saturday at 11 AM at Avondale Library. June 7, Dr. Andrew Hardaway will discuss "GLP-1 Medicines: Myths, Truths, and a Tale of Basic Science." Don't miss this opportunity to discuss the fascinating science behind new weight loss drugs with @andrewhardaway.bsky.social
May 28, 2025 at 3:44 AM
Brain Chats is every first Saturday at 11 AM at Avondale Library. June 7, Dr. Andrew Hardaway will discuss "GLP-1 Medicines: Myths, Truths, and a Tale of Basic Science." Don't miss this opportunity to discuss the fascinating science behind new weight loss drugs with @andrewhardaway.bsky.social
#vss2025 check out Pinar Demirayak’s talk today in the afternoon talk session! Cool results about decoding activity in early visual areas, which changes with training!
May 20, 2025 at 12:52 PM
#vss2025 check out Pinar Demirayak’s talk today in the afternoon talk session! Cool results about decoding activity in early visual areas, which changes with training!
We are recruiting participants in our studies!
Now I'm so close to the cutoff, I'm not sure we should have used the term "older adult" for recruitment of people over 55, but what's done is done! survey.eyes.uab.edu/surveys/?s=9...
Now I'm so close to the cutoff, I'm not sure we should have used the term "older adult" for recruitment of people over 55, but what's done is done! survey.eyes.uab.edu/surveys/?s=9...
May 8, 2025 at 4:44 PM
We are recruiting participants in our studies!
Now I'm so close to the cutoff, I'm not sure we should have used the term "older adult" for recruitment of people over 55, but what's done is done! survey.eyes.uab.edu/surveys/?s=9...
Now I'm so close to the cutoff, I'm not sure we should have used the term "older adult" for recruitment of people over 55, but what's done is done! survey.eyes.uab.edu/surveys/?s=9...
May's Brain Chat is Saturday at 11 at Avondale Library! Come learn about Long Covid and the Brain!
April 28, 2025 at 1:51 AM
May's Brain Chat is Saturday at 11 at Avondale Library! Come learn about Long Covid and the Brain!
So wonderful to get to chat with Maggie McPherson from
@senkatiebritt.bsky.social's office! We talked about how important it is to maintain research stability, and how recent administration actions have destabilized it. It was a great conversation! #neuroadvocate #sfnHillday
@senkatiebritt.bsky.social's office! We talked about how important it is to maintain research stability, and how recent administration actions have destabilized it. It was a great conversation! #neuroadvocate #sfnHillday
March 13, 2025 at 10:55 PM
So wonderful to get to chat with Maggie McPherson from
@senkatiebritt.bsky.social's office! We talked about how important it is to maintain research stability, and how recent administration actions have destabilized it. It was a great conversation! #neuroadvocate #sfnHillday
@senkatiebritt.bsky.social's office! We talked about how important it is to maintain research stability, and how recent administration actions have destabilized it. It was a great conversation! #neuroadvocate #sfnHillday
It was great talking with Megan Medley from Rep. Aderholt's office today. We discussed how incredibly important it is to maintain stability for the US research enterprise, and how recent actions by the administration have destabilized it. Don't destabilize the US!
#neuroadvocate #sfnHillday
#neuroadvocate #sfnHillday
March 12, 2025 at 6:49 PM
It was great talking with Megan Medley from Rep. Aderholt's office today. We discussed how incredibly important it is to maintain stability for the US research enterprise, and how recent actions by the administration have destabilized it. Don't destabilize the US!
#neuroadvocate #sfnHillday
#neuroadvocate #sfnHillday
I had so much fun talking with Caleb Alford from Senator Tuberville's office. We discussed how important it is that fundamental research discoveries continue with US support. #neuroadvocate #sfnHillday @neuronline.sfn.org #neurosky
March 12, 2025 at 6:41 PM
I had so much fun talking with Caleb Alford from Senator Tuberville's office. We discussed how important it is that fundamental research discoveries continue with US support. #neuroadvocate #sfnHillday @neuronline.sfn.org #neurosky
Wonderful stand up for science rally in Birmingham! Well attended, gorgeous weather, and great thoughts!!
March 8, 2025 at 3:38 AM
Wonderful stand up for science rally in Birmingham! Well attended, gorgeous weather, and great thoughts!!
Our monthly Brain Chats event is Saturday, Feb 1 at 11 AM in Avondale Library! Dr. Briana DeMiranda will be discussing "How toxic exposures shaped Parkinson's disease research." Don't miss this opportunity to discuss how pollution impacts brain health with one of the leaders in the field!
January 29, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Our monthly Brain Chats event is Saturday, Feb 1 at 11 AM in Avondale Library! Dr. Briana DeMiranda will be discussing "How toxic exposures shaped Parkinson's disease research." Don't miss this opportunity to discuss how pollution impacts brain health with one of the leaders in the field!
This Saturday at 11 AM at Avondale Library in Birmingham, check out the next installment of Brain Chats! We'll be talking about The Power of the Clock: How Sleep and Circadian Rhythms Shape Our Lives. Appropriate topic, as we approach the shortest days of the year!
December 2, 2024 at 5:25 PM
This Saturday at 11 AM at Avondale Library in Birmingham, check out the next installment of Brain Chats! We'll be talking about The Power of the Clock: How Sleep and Circadian Rhythms Shape Our Lives. Appropriate topic, as we approach the shortest days of the year!
The book I read ~20 yo with a big influence on my next steps was "The Number Sense" by Stan Dehaene. As a physics major, wrestling with what to do next, this book showed that the brain's architecture shapes EVERYTHING we think we know. To understand the world, we must understand the brain's filter.
November 19, 2024 at 7:18 PM
The book I read ~20 yo with a big influence on my next steps was "The Number Sense" by Stan Dehaene. As a physics major, wrestling with what to do next, this book showed that the brain's architecture shapes EVERYTHING we think we know. To understand the world, we must understand the brain's filter.
Elam Cutts' poster is NOW -- how well do patients with macular degeneration compensate for low vision? Elam (and others in lab and Marcello Manigllia) has a method for doing that which will help us quantify brain changes associated with compensation! Poster AA17!
November 12, 2023 at 7:14 PM
Elam Cutts' poster is NOW -- how well do patients with macular degeneration compensate for low vision? Elam (and others in lab and Marcello Manigllia) has a method for doing that which will help us quantify brain changes associated with compensation! Poster AA17!
Audrey's poster about Brain Awareness Week at UAB is about to start! 8 to noon at XX70
November 12, 2023 at 12:50 PM
Audrey's poster about Brain Awareness Week at UAB is about to start! 8 to noon at XX70