Spatial contrast sensitivity changes after subcortical visual system lesions in the rat.
Spatial contrast sensitivity functions were determined in hooded rats after lesions involving the pretectum (PRT), rostral pretectum and adjacent medial thalamus (PRT +), posterior thalamus (PT), or ventral lateral geniculate nucleus (LGv). PRT and PRT + lesions depressed sensitivity at both high and low spatial frequencies but the high frequency loss was much greater in the latter group. PT lesions depressed sensitivity to frequencies of 0.45 cycles/deg. and above but had no detectable effect upon low frequencies while LGv lesions depressed sensitivity to both high and low frequencies. The discussion relates these results to previous reports of discrimination learning impairments after comparable lesions.
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D005556:Form Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D005829:Geniculate Bodies / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D003336:Tectum Mesencephali / Q000502:physiology; D013787:Thalamic Nuclei / Q000502:physiology; D013788:Thalamus / Q000502:physiology