Reversal of the physiological effects of monocular deprivation in adult dark-reared cats.

If kittens are dark-reared for 4 months and subsequently monocularly sutured, cells in area 17 become dominated by the experienced eye. We now find that the effects of monocular deprivation in adult dark-reared cats can be reversed by suturing the experienced eye and allowing the cat to use the deprived eye, an effect that has previously been shown only in young kittens. The presence of continuous or nearly continuous visual experience during infancy is required for the critical period to exhaust itself--brief periods of visual experience will not suffice.