Research
Perception, cognition and behavior depend on the development of specialized, orderly neural networks throughout the cerebral cortex. Visual cortex, the primary focus of our lab, is subdivided into the primary visual area (V1, area 17, striate cortex) and a number of extrastriate areas that contain more or less complete representations of the opposite visual hemifield. During development these areas become interconnected through reciprocal neural networks that maintain the visuotopic organization imposed by the retina. What is the anatomical and functional organization of visual cortex among different species? How do topographically precise networks develop among visual areas, and how susceptible are they to pathological insults at different developmental stages? We study these and related questions using anatomical and electrophysiological techniques, as well as time-lapse, MRI and longitudinal approaches in vivo. Another set of projects derives from our recent discovery that in rats, the inputs from both eyes are anatomically segregated in primary visual cortex, forming what in primates and carnivores are known as Ocular Dominance Columns (ODCs). This finding provides a new and promising model for studying experience induced changes in central nervous system circuitry, as well as the cellular mechanisms underlying ocular dominance plasticity in mammals. We have begun exploring the possibility of using in vivo manganese-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MEMRI) for longitudinal studies of plastic changes of ODCs in rats. Another MRI technique, Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI), shows great potential as a non-invasive technique for studying the development of neuronal connectivity and architecture under normal as well as pathological conditions. We are currently developing an experimental model in ferrets for examining the ability of DTI for detecting and monitoring changes in gray and white matter induced by early visual deafferentation. Our goal is to understand the relationship between DTI anisotropy measurements and the underlying structural changes in neuronal connectivity in order to fully develop the potential of this technique for detecting abnormalities associated with neurodevelopmental disorders.
Education
- January 16, 2020 Jaime Olavarria was again awarded a University of Canterbury Visiting Erskine Fellowship in Christchurch, New Zealand, for one semester in 2020
- January 19, 2017 Jaime Olavarria was awarded an Erskine Fellowship to visit the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand.
- June 4, 2014 Congratulations to Jaime Olavarria for his award from the Office of Global affairs to recognizing the importance of his international work and efforts.
- May 15, 2013 Jaime Olavarria was just awarded the Office of the Provost International Activities Grant.
- March 19, 2012 Jaime Olavarria was awarded a 2012-2013 International Provost Grant from The Office of Global Affairs.
- January 24, 2011 Jaime Olavarria’s Royalty Research Fund proposal was one of the 30 funded out of 101 proposals.
- July 21, 2008 Jaime Olavarria, recipient of a UW Distinguished Teaching Award, was featured in the latest issue of A&S Perspectives.
- March 17, 2008 Jaime Olavarria received a 2008 Distinguished Teaching Award.
- March 13, 2008 Congratulations to Jaime Olavarria who received a 2008 Distinguished Teaching Award
- Kroenke, C.D., Brian Mills, B., Olavarria, J.F., Neil, J.J. 2014. The neuroanatomy of the ferret brain with focus on the cerebral cortex. In Fox J.G., Marini R.P., Editors” Biology and Diseases of the Ferret, Oxford, UK: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. P 69-80.
- Laing, R.J., Turecek, J., Takahata, T., Olavarria, J.F. 2014. Identification of eye-specific domains and their relationship to callosal connections in primary visual cortex of Long Evans rats. Cerebral Cortex, doi:10.1093/cercor/bhu128.
- Laing, R.J, Lasiene, J., Olavarria, J.F. 2013. Topography of striate-extrastriate connections develops abnormally in the absence of retinal input. Biomed Research International. Neuroscience, doi:10.1155/2013/592426.
- Bock, A.S., Kroenke, C.D., Taber, E.N., Olavarria, J.F. 2012. Retinal input influences the size and corticocortical connectivity of visual cortex during postnatal development in the ferret. Journal of Comparative Neurology, 520:914–932. DOI: 10.1002/cne.22738.
- Laing, R.J., Bock, A.S., Lasiene, J., Olavarria, J.F. 2012. Role of retinal input on the development of striate-extrastriate patterns of connections in the rat. Journal of Comparative Neurology, 520:3256-3276. DOI: 10.1002/cne.23096
- Olavarria, J.F., Bock, A.S., Leigland L.A., Kroenke, C.D. 2012. Deafferentation-induced plasticity of visual callosal connections: predicting critical periods and analyzing cortical abnormalities using diffusion tensor imaging. Neural Plasticity, 2012, article ID 250196.
- Olavarria, J.F., Bock, A.S., Leigland L.A., Kroenke, C.D. 2012. Deafferentation-induced plasticity of visual callosal connections: predicting critical periods and analyzing cortical abnormalities using diffusion tensor imaging. Neural Plasticity, in press.
- Bock, A.S., Olavarria, J.F. 2011. Neonatal enucleation during a critical period reduces the precision of cortico-cortical projections in visual cortex. Neuroscience Letters, 501:152–156. DOI:10.1016/j.neulet.2011.07.005.
- Bock, A.S., Olavarria, J.F., Leigland, L.A., Taber, E.N., Jespersen, S.N., Kroenke, C.D. 2010. Diffusion tensor imaging detects early cerebral cortex abnormalities in neuronal architecture induced by bilateral neonatal enucleation: An experimental model in the ferret. Front Syst Neurosci 4: Article 149.
- Ruthazer E.S., Bachleda A.R., Olavarria J.F. 2010. Role of interstitial branches in the development of visual cortico-cortical connections: A time-lapse and fixed-tissue analysis. J. Comp. Neurol. 518: 4963-4979.
- Olavarria J.F., Laing R., Hiroi S., Lasiene J. 2008. Topography and axon arbor architecture in the visual callosal pathway: effects of deafferentation and blockade of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors. Biological Research, 41:413-424.
- Olavarria J.F., van Brederode J.F.M., and Spain W.J. 2007. Retinal influences induce bidirectional changes in the kinetics of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor-mediated responses in striate cortical cells during postnatal development. Neuroscience, 148: 683-699.
- Olavarria J.F., and P. Safaeian. 2006. Development of callosal topography in visual cortex of normal and enucleated rats. Journal of Comparative Neurology, in press.
- Hevner, R.F., Daza, R.A.M., Rubenstein, J.L.R., Stunnenberg, H., Olavarria, J.F., and C. Englund. 2003. Beyond laminar fate: toward a molecular classification of cortical projection/pyramidal neurons. Developmental Neuroscience, 25:139-151.
- Olavarria, J.F. and R. Hiroi. 2003. Retinal influences specify cortico-cortical maps by postnatal day six in rats and mice. Journal of Comparative Neurology,459:156-172.
- Sorensen, S.A., T.A. Jones, Olavarria J.F. 2003. Neonatal enucleation reduces the proportion of multiple synaptic boutons in the callosal projection to rat striate cortex. Neuroscience Letters, 351:17-20.
- Olavarria, J.F. 2002. Callosal connections correlate preferentially with ipsilateral cortical domains in cat areas 17 and 18, and with contralateral domains in the 17/18 transition zone. Journal of Comparative Neurology, 433:441-457.
- O’Brien, B.J., Abel, P.L., and J.F. Olavarria. 2002. Connections of calbindin-D28k-defined subdivisions in inferior pulvinar with visual areas V2, V4 and MT in macaque monkeys. Thalamus & Related Systems, 1: 317-330.
- Olavarria, J.F. 2001. Influence of topography and ocular dominance on the functional organization of callosal connections in cat striate cortex. In Payne B., Peters A., Editors: The Cat Primary Visual Cortex, New York: Academic Press. P 259-294.