Donald E. Mitchell
Dr. Donald E. Mitchell is a Professor Emeritus in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience at Dalhousie University. His research has focused on the development and plasticity of the visual system, particularly the effects of abnormal early visual experience on visual function. Following initial studies of humans with early abnormal visual input as a result of refractive or oculomotor conditions such as astigmatism, anisometropia or strabismus he changed tack to the use of animal models. By the devise of new behavioural methods, and neurophysiological approaches, he investigates the mechanisms underlying amblyopia and strategies for restoring vision following early visual deprivation. His recent work has demonstrated that interventions such as temporary retinal inactivation and periods of complete darkness can promote rapid recovery of visual function by reactivating neural plasticity in the mature visual cortex.
Research interests
- Visual system development
- Critical periods and neural plasticity
- Early visual deprivation
- Visual recovery