Electrophysiological studies on the nucleus isthmi of the lizards Gekko gekko and Shinisaurus crocodilurus.
This report studies visual responses of the isthmic units in Gekko gekko and Shinisaurus crocodilurus using extracellular recording and cobalt sulfide marking techniques. Our results indicate that: (i) the nucleus isthmi pars magnocellularis (Imc) is a visual center; (ii) there are luxotonic units in Imc; (iii) Imc units respond vigorously to moving contrast targets, of which 35% units burst only at the moment when targets are moving into and out of their receptive fields, none react to either tactile or auditory stimulation; (iv) there exist binocular units in Imc; and (v) visual field is topographically projected onto Imc.
D000818:Animals; D004594:Electrophysiology; D008116:Lizards / Q000502:physiology*; D009899:Optic Lobe, Nonmammalian / Q000502:physiology*; D010828:Physiology, Comparative; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology*