Retinotopic Development, Models of

Axons of neighbouring retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) coming from the eye normally terminate in neighbouring parts of target brain regions, such as the optic tectum of amphibians or the superior colliculus (SC) and lateral geniculate nucleus of mammals. This orderly arrangement of connections is termed a retinotopic map. Theoretical models of retinotopic map formation help us understand how these connections develop in early life, and how maps might reform after surgical or experimental manipulations.