Receptive field properties of visual neurons in the avian nucleus lentiformis mesencephali

Experimental Brain Research
Y X FuS R Wang

Abstract

The receptive field (RF) properties of visual neurons extracellularly recorded from the nucleus lentiformis mesencephali (nLM) in pigeons (Columba livia) were quantitatively analyzed using a workstation computer. These cells were actively spontaneous, and direction-and velocity-selective. Using spatial gratings as visual stimuli, these cells could be divided into three groups: uni- (74%), bi- (17%), and omnidirectional (9%) cells in terms of their directionality. On the basis of their velocity selectivity, they could be named slow cells (84%), preferring low velocity (0.1-11 degrees/s), and fast cells (14%), preferring rapid motion (34-67 degrees/s), with one cell (2%) responding maximally to an intermediate velocity of 18 degrees/ s. These two properties were correlated in the way that all unidirectionals were slow cells, omnidirectionals were fast cells, and bidirectionals were either slow or fast cells including the intermediate cell. Using small targets as visual stimuli, it was found that the majority of cells examined had RFs that each consisted of an excitatory RF (ERF) and an inhibitory RF (IRF) that overlapped. The unidirectionals were mainly of this type of RF structure, whereas the omnidirectionals apparently had ERF...Continue Reading

Citations

Mar 26, 2005·Biological cybernetics·Chuan ZhangXiang-Lin Qi
May 10, 2001·Neuroscience Letters·N A Crowder, D R W Wylie
Nov 3, 2005·The European Journal of Neuroscience·Le-Qing WuShu-Rong Wang
Nov 6, 2007·Behavioural Brain Research·Qian Xiao, Onur Güntürkün
Mar 14, 2002·Journal of Neuroscience Research·Yong GuShu-Rong Wang
Oct 14, 2006·The Journal of Physiology·Yu-Qiong NiuShu-Rong Wang
Jan 9, 2013·The European Journal of Neuroscience·Qian Xiao, Barrie J Frost
Nov 6, 2007·Journal of Neurophysiology·Olivia Andrea Masseck, Klaus-Peter Hoffmann
Nov 4, 2011·Journal of Neurophysiology·Henri Gioanni, Pierre-Paul Vidal
Jan 5, 2006·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Monique MauriceAnick Abourachid

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