Spatial properties and direction selectivity of single neurons in area 21b of the cat

Details

Serval ID
serval:BIB_2E4F22F11AF8
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Spatial properties and direction selectivity of single neurons in area 21b of the cat
Journal
Neuroscience
Author(s)
Tardif  E., Lepore  F., Guillemot  J. P.
ISSN
0306-4522 (Print)
Publication state
Published
Issued date
2000
Volume
97
Number
4
Pages
625-34
Notes
Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Abstract
The receptive field properties of single units were assessed in area 21b of the cat visual cortex. Visual cells in this area were binocular and showed relatively large receptive fields. Most cells were strongly sensitive to the direction of drifting gratings. The mean value of the half-widths of the direction tuning curves (32 degrees ) suggests broader direction tunings than are typically found in other visual areas. The spatial frequency tuning functions were either band-pass or low-pass. Cells responded optimally to low spatial frequencies (mean =0.08c/deg) and also showed low spatial resolution (mean =0.29c/deg.). The estimated values of spatial bandwidths (mean=2.2 octaves) suggest that area 21b cells act as relatively good spatial filters. Although some cells exhibited a low contrast threshold, most cells began to respond at intermediate or high contrast values (mean threshold =15.5%). Temporal frequency tuning functions were mostly band-pass and usually broad (mean temporal bandwidth=3.3 octaves). Cells were found that responded optimally to various temporal frequencies (mean optimal temporal frequency=3.2Hz), although the majority preferred a temporal frequency below 4Hz.These results suggest that visual properties (receptive fields sizes, spatial resolution and orientation/direction selectivity) of cells in area 21b differ from those of cells previously observed in the adjoining area 21a. These differences provide evidence in support of functional distinction between these two visual areas.
Keywords
Animals *Brain Mapping Cats Contrast Sensitivity Dominance, Cerebral Electrophysiology/methods Female Male Microelectrodes Neurons/*physiology Photic Stimulation Vision, Binocular Visual Cortex/*physiology Visual Fields/*physiology
Pubmed
Web of science
Create date
25/01/2008 11:34
Last modification date
20/08/2019 13:12
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