Visual development: neural basis and new assessment methods

The strongest evidence for beneficial effects of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LCPUFA) supplementation comes from measures of visual development. In particular, two measures of visual function, the electroretinogram (ERG) and grating acuity, have provided the primary basis for the addition of LCPUFA to infant formulas. However, the neural mechanisms underlying dietary effects on these visual functions are not well understood. Furthermore, the influence of dietary LCPUFA on other aspects of visual development is largely unknown. Additional measures of visual function would help to clarify the extent and nature of the effects of LCPUFA on the developing visual system, and several new methods promise to provide more detailed information about the sites of these effects. A number of recent reviews have described methods for visual assessment and the effects of infant LCPUFA supplementation on visual development. Therefore, the following review will emphasize newer developments in infant visual assessment and in understanding the neural mechanisms that may underlie the effects of LCPUFA.