A system and method for retraining the visual system of a subject with damage to the striate andor extrastriate visual cortex includes displaying a visual stimulus within a first location of an impaired visual field of the subject; and detecting the subject’s perception of an attribute of the visual stimulus. The reagents comprise a characteristically folded peptide backbone each end of which is conjugated to a fluorophore. A plurality of openings are formed through this first layer; the openings are filled with metal, thereby forming metal studs extending through the first layer. An insulator is arranged on the upper surface of the electrode.