Disparity tuning in macaque area V4.
Neural processing of stereoscopic depth is conventionally associated with the dorsal (spatial) pathway in primate visual cortex. The role of depth information in the ventral (object) pathway has been less certain. We found prominent tuning for stereoscopic disparity in area V4, an intermediate stage in the ventral pathway. Eighty percent of the cells in our sample exhibited significant disparity tuning over the -1.0 degree to 1.0 degree range, and the majority showed > 2:1 response differences. Tuning function shapes were similar to those reported previously in other visual areas. We observed a significant tuning bias towards crossed (near) disparities. This could reflect an emphasis in the ventral pathway on foreground objects or parts of objects projecting towards the viewer.
Hinkle
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Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Zanvyl Krieger Mind/Brain Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore MD 21218, USA.
Connor
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D000818:Animals; D003867:Depth Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D005133:Eye Movements; D005260:Female; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008297:Male; D015357:Vision Disparity / Q000502:physiology*; D014793:Visual Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D014795:Visual Pathways / Q000502:physiology