Figure 3.

Arc is required for bidirectional experience-dependent plasticity in visual cortex in vivo. (a) Experience-dependent plasticity in the visual cortex can be measured using chronic visually evoked potential (VEP) recordings in V1 layer 4. (b) Schematic of the time course of VEP changes in visual cortex after monocular deprivation. In wild-type mice, monocular deprivation results in a substantial decrease in deprived eye VEPs (black line). However, deprivation has no effect in Arc^−/− mice (blue line)³⁴. (c) Repeated exposure to gratings of a specific orientation results in SRP of VEPs in wild-type mice (black line). Mice that lack Arc do no exhibit substantial SRP (blue line)³⁴. Thus, the visual cortex is rendered immutable by deprivation or experience in the absence of Arc.