Receptive field organization and response properties of visual neurons in the pigeon nucleus semilunaris.
The present study provides the first electrophysiological evidence that the nucleus semilunaris is a visual center in the pigeon midbrain. The receptive field of E-type cells is either an excitatory field alone or an excitatory center with an inhibitory periphery, which in most cases is surrounded by a disinhibitory region. Cells of I-type possess only an inhibitory receptive field. Semilunar cells are selective for fast (80-160 degrees /s), intermediate (40 degrees /s) and slow (10-20 degrees /s) velocities of motion, with directional cells mainly preferring forward and downward motion. About 40% of cells prefer a white stimulus moving against a black background, and 60% of cells prefer a black stimulus against a white background. The physiological significance of these properties is discussed.
Yang
Jin
J
Laboratory for Visual Information Processing, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 15 Datun Road, Beijing 100101, China.
Li
Xiao
X
Wang
Shu-Rong
SR
D000818:Animals; D001931:Brain Mapping; D010856:Columbidae; D005074:Evoked Potentials, Visual / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D013477:Superior Colliculi / Q000502:physiology*; D014795:Visual Pathways / Q000502:physiology