title: Properties of X- and Y-cells in the rabbit retina.
abstract: Bevelled glass microelectrodes were used to record spike potentials extracellularly from the ganglion cells of the rabbit retina. Good responses were obtained from the isolated retina or eye-cup preparation for at least 12 hr. Using a contrast reversal stimulus, 63.8% (67/105) of the units showed linear spatial summation (X-cells), and 21.0% (22/105) showed nonlinear spatial summation (Y-cells). The X- and Y-cells in the rabbit retina had physiological properties which were similar to those in cat retina. Directionally selective cells (15.2%) were found to respond poorly, if at all, to the contrast reversal stimulus.
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials; D000818:Animals; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008839:Microelectrodes; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D011817:Rabbits; D012160:Retina / Q000166:cytology*