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PubMed2005

Synchronous activity in cat visual cortex encodes collinear and cocircular contours.

We explored how contour information in primary visual cortex might be embedded in the simultaneous activity of multiple cells recorded with a 100-electrode array. Synchronous activity in cat visual cortex was more selective and predictable in discriminating between drifting grating and concentric ring stimuli than changes in firing rate. Synchrony was found even between cells with wholly different orientation preferences when their receptive fields were circularly aligned, and membership in synchronous groups was orientation and curvature dependent. The existence of synchrony between cocircular cells reinforces its role as a general mechanism for contour integration and shape detection as predicted by association field concepts. Our data suggest that cortical synchrony results from common and synchronous input from earlier visual areas and that it could serve to shape extrastriate response selectivity.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

GABAergic inhibitory control of the transient and sustained components of orientation selectivity in a model microcolumn in layer 4 of cat visual cortex.

Recently proposed models of orientation tuning in layer 4 of cat primary visual cortex (Somers, Nelson, & Sur, 1995; Douglas, Koch, Mahowald, Martin, & Suarez, 1995) rely on widespread inhibitory intracortical connections to suppress the nonoptimal component of a broadly tuned thalamic input, while local excitatory intracortical connections amplify the optimal component. However, new experimental data (Ferster, Chung, & Wheat, 1996) and theoretical analyses (Ferster, 1987; Krukowski, Priebe, & Miller, 1996) show that the temporally modulated component of thalamic input is well tuned and that the cortical circuitry must simply subtract an unmodulated DC component at nonoptimal orientations to obtain sharp tuning. In addition, within a single hypercolumn in layer 4, inhibitory and excitatory layer 4 neurons have approximately equal-sized axonal fields, making the most of their synapses within their own dendritic field (Kisvarday, Martin, Whitteridge, & Somogyi, 1985; Martin & Whitteridge, 1984). We have constructed a model of a single microcolumn in which GABA inhibition subtracts the DC and controls the sustained response, while GABA inhibition controls the response to transient and suprathreshold inputs. The model fits experimental data based on stimulation with drifting sine-wave gratings as well as flashed bars, explains a counterintuitive property of the GABA conductance, and at suboptimal orientations and submaximal contrasts produces an exponential distribution of firing frequencies.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Effect of onset age of strabismus on the binocular responses of neurons in the monkey visual cortex.

PURPOSE: By 6 weeks of age, neurons in the monkey's primary visual cortex acquire qualitatively adult-like binocular response properties and behaviorally stereopsis emerges. In this study, it was determined whether the onset of strabismus has a more severe impact on cortical binocularity before or after this critical developmental age. METHODS: Infant monkeys were fit with a light-weight helmet which held a total of 27 diopters of base-in prisms in front of their two eyes for a fixed period of two weeks. For one group of infant monkeys, prism-rearing began at 2 weeks of age and for a second group, the onset was at 6 weeks of age. Immediately after the rearing period, i.e., at 4 weeks and 8 weeks of age, respectively, extracellular single-unit recording methods were used to determine the nature and severity of alterations in the binocular response properties of V1 neurons. Dichoptic sinewave gratings were used as visual stimuli. RESULTS: In comparison to normal age-matched infants, V1 neurons in both strabismic groups exhibited reductions in sensitivity to interocular spatial phase disparities (disparity sensitivity) and a higher prevalence of binocular inhibitory interactions (binocular suppression). However, the reduction in disparity sensitivity and the magnitude of binocular suppression were much greater in the late (6-8 weeks) than the early (2- 4 weeks) onset group. CONCLUSIONS: Discordant binocular signals due to brief periods of early strabismus have more serious effects on the development of binocular properties of V1 neurons if they occur shortly after rather than before the emergence of stereopsis (i.e., when the binocular connections are relatively more mature but the visual cortex still shows a high degree of plasticity).

Age of Onset↗
PubMed1981

[Dynamics of orientational tuning of visual cortex neurons in the cat].

Orientational tuning of singly units in the primary visual cortex of a nonanesthetized paralyzed cat was studied by usual criteria (number of spikes and maximal frequency of the response) and by "time slices" method. A computer plotted graphs of orientational tuning for successive time intervals with a step of 10 or 20 ms (differential slices) or for prolonged intervals with same step (integral slices). In both cases it was revealed that in all the investigated units orientational tuning markedly changed in time, most often in wideness of characteristic and in 87% of cases in preferred orientation range was detected: preferred orientation systematically moved for 15-112 degrees in successive moments during some tens of ms of the first and the second burst of spikes. A possible functional significance of the data revealed and the neurophysiological mechanisms are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Reorganization of changes in the receptive fields of cat visual cortex neurons during light anesthesia].

The activity of 127 neurones of the primary visual cortex (17th field) was recorded in unanaesthetized cats immobilized with d-tubocurarine, during calm alertness and during short sleep caused by intravenous administration of 5% water solution of sombrevine in a dose of 1.5 mg/kg. In all of the studied cells, considerable rearrangements in sizes and in form of the receptive fields (RF) were recorded. The studied neurones with excitatory RF centres formed two main groups. The first one comprised 52% of cells; the central excitatory zone of their RF became considerably wider due to administration of sombrevine. In the second group (48%), the drug produced a significant reduction of RF. Neurones with an inhibitory RF centre exhibited a different relation of RF changes: the RFs became larger in 68% and narrower in 32% of the studied cells. Cortical and reticular mechanisms are discussed of the observed rearrangements in the RFs of visual cortical neurones under the action of sombrevine--a general anaesthetic, provoking a short-term decrease in the brain functional state.

Anesthesia, General↗
PubMed2000

Development of full-length Trk B-immunoreactive structures in the prefrontal and visual cortices of the macaque monkey.

Distribution and morphological changes of cells containing the signal transducing neurotrophin receptor, full-length Trk B (fl-Trk B), were investigated in the prefrontal cortex (area FD) and the primary visual cortex (area OC) of the macaque monkey between embryonic day 140 and the adult stage. In area FD at the adult stage, fl-Trk B immunoreactivity was mainly observed in the pyramidal cells in layers II/III, V and VI. Small numbers of granule cells in layer IV were immunopositive. Bipolar and multipolar cells in layer II were rarely immunoreactive. At embryonic day 140, the number of fl-Trk B immunoreactive pyramidal cell was high, and gradually decreased until the adult stage. In layer IV, the number of fl-Trk B-ir cells was also high at embryonic day 140, and decreased remarkably from postnatal day 7 to the adult stage. On the other hand, in area OC at the adult stage, cells in layers II/III, IV, V and VI were fl-Trk B immunopositive. From embryonic day 140 until adulthood, the cells in layer IVc were fl-Trk B immunoreactive. The strongest fl-Trk B immunoreactivity in areas FD and OC occurred at postnatal month 6, coinciding with the time of the synapse overproduction. These findings suggest that ligands of fl-Trk B, such as BDNF and NT4/5 may be involved in the development and maintenance of the monkey cerebral cortices.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Differential expression of cytochrome oxidase (COX) genes in different regions of monkey brain.

A frontal pole cDNA library from monkey (Macaca mulatta) brain was screened to identify mRNAs that are expressed more in frontal pole as compared to primary visual cortex. Three cDNA clones, whose greater expression was confirmed by Northern blot analysis, were identified as cytochrome oxidase (COX) subunits I, II, and III (COX I, II, and III). Each clone showed higher levels of mRNA in the frontal pole, dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex, and hippocampus than in the primary visual or somatosensory cortices. COX histochemistry of prefrontal, visual, and somatosensory cortical regions demonstrated heterogeneous distributions, with highest activity in dendrite-rich neuropil of the cortex. A laminar distribution of COX mRNA expression also was demonstrated with in situ hybridization. mRNA was detected in cell bodies and in apical dendrites. These results indicate region specific differences in the distribution of COX activity and in the corresponding mRNA for three of its subunits within the monkey brain. Such differences may be related to differences in the distribution of neuropil as compared with cell bodies among the brain regions studied, and may be relevant to selective vulnerability in Alzheimer's disease.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Unit activity in the cat visual cortex in the sleep--waking cycle.

Changes in spontaneous unit activity in the primary visual cortex during the sleep-waking cycle were studied in chronic experiments on dark-adapted cats. In the cell poulation studied activity in states of wakefulness and of paradoxical sleep did not differ significantly either in mean discharge frequency or in pattern. Activity of most cells in a state of slow sleep differed significantly from that in states of wakefulness and paradoxical sleep by the development of a "burst-pause" pattern in the unit discharges.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Anatomical organization of macaque monkey striate visual cortex.

I hope that this review of the internal anatomy of the monkey primary visual cortex makes clear the high degree of specialization that exists in each of the cortical laminae and their constituent neurons. Each lamina is driven by different patterns of relays from the LGN and by different patterns of intrinsic interlaminar projections. The elaborate laminar and intralaminar segregation of efferent neuron arrays suggests that the extraordinary precision of inter- and intralaminar connectivity provides a unique functional role for each set of efferent neurons. The organization of aspinous (presumed inhibitory) local circuit neurons suggests that they are highly specialized, and within each lamina and via interlaminar relays each variety may only accomplish a single, particular task. The cortex neuropil does not give the immediate impression of "random" networks, and if such exist, they must surely be between very tightly determined subgroups of neurons. Clearly a very detailed physiological exploration of V1 is still needed, with new consideration of thalamic axon function, of efferent neuron characteristics, of laminar differences, and of spatial organization of properties within laminae, in order to match known anatomical detail with function. The concept of columnar organization in cortical organization of V1 may eventually be redefined in more complex terms that accurately describe the anatomical and functional parcellation evident in cortical depth and perhaps may link it to a means by which a correlation of different aspects of the visual image is achieved.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

[Responses of neurons in cat visual cortex with sensitivity to bar and cross-like figure].

In the cat primary visual cortex (area 17) the response magnitude and latency were studied in 280 neurons sensitive to bar or cross-like-figure. Under natural conditions half of the studied 195 cells preferred bar (first group) or cross (second group). In the first group responses to both figures were near equal, while in the second one cross evoked much stronger response. Response latencies with the optimal bar in the first group were shorter than in the second group and longer to a cross than to a bar while in the second group they were considerably shorter to a cross than to bar. Under local blockage of GABA-ergic inhibition by microiontophoretic application of bicuculline about one-fourth of 85 neurons generated greater responses and were bar-sensitive irrespective to presence or absence of inhibition. Other neurons were cross-sensitive at least in one of the conditions (with and/or without of inhibition). They responses grew under bicuculline action relatively more than in the first group. Significance of the data obtained for tuning to image features and temporal succession of their detection is discussed.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1988

Genesis of GABA-immunoreactive neurons in the ferret visual cortex.

The pattern of neurogenesis of GABA-immunoreactive neurons in the ferret primary visual cortex was determined using immunohistochemical and 3H-thymidine autoradiographic techniques. Neurons in the visual cortex of the ferret undergo their final cell division during a period extending from embryonic day 20 (E20) to postnatal day 14 (P14) and follow an inside-out pattern of neuronal production (Jackson et al., 1984) similar to that observed in other mammals. Earlier-generated neurons are found at deeper cortical positions in the adult than are those generated later. Layer I is an exception to this rule, since neurons destined for this layer are produced at both the beginning and end of neurogenesis. In this study, the pattern of neurogenesis of GABA-immunoreactive neurons is compared to the pattern observed for nonimmunoreactive neurons. The overall pattern of cortical neurogenesis (inside-out pattern) is similar for GABA-immunoreactive neurons and neurons that are not GABA-immunoreactive. However, the GABA-immunoreactive neurons born on a given day of development are more broadly distributed across the radial axis of the adult cortex than are nonimmunoreactive neurons generated on the same day. GABA-immunoreactive neurons generated later in neurogenesis are, on average, slightly smaller than those generated early. If GABA-immunoreactive neurons in the visual cortex are interneurons, then these findings suggest that interneurons follow the same pattern of neurogenesis as do projecting neurons in the visual cortex.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

[Contemporary knowledge on the subject of visual cortex structure and function].

The present state of knowledge concerning the structure and the function of the visual cortex was discussed. Special attention was focused on the: (1) retino-geniculo-cortical pathway (2) representation and topography of the visual cortex (3) anatomy, physiology, and functional architecture of the primary visual cortex (4) organization and function of the parvocellular, magnocellular, and koniocellular pathway (5) functional specialization and connections between the visual areas (6) neurotransmitters' presence and function in the Brodmann's 17th area.

Humans↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Prenatal development of calbindin D-28K in human visual cortex.

The distribution of the calcium-binding protein calbindin D-28K (CB) was investigated in human fetal primary visual cortex. CB is present in Cajal-Retzius cells of layer I, in sparse neurons of the ventricular and intermediate zones (VZ, IZ), and in tangential fibres in IZ by 15 weeks (W) of gestation. Cajal-Retzius cells lose their staining by 30W. CB appears in layers II-VI mainly from 26W, following an inside-outside sequence. Until 34W, CB labelling is in somata and neuropil located primarily in layers IVA, IVC and V. Then reactive perikarya and puncta increase in layers II-IVA and deep IVB and C, but are reduced in infragranular layers from 34W to term. From 30W positive somata form clusters in the cell-rich bands in layers IV and V and labelled neuropil in layers III and IV has a periodic pattern from 34W. Also from 34W, numerous lightly reactive pyramidal cells are present in layers II to IVA in primary, but not secondary, visual cortex. Our results show precocious expression of CB before full laminar differentiation of the cortex and that some of this expression is transient.

Calbindins↗
PubMed1982

Theory for the development of neuron selectivity: orientation specificity and binocular interaction in visual cortex.

The development of stimulus selectivity in the primary sensory cortex of higher vertebrates is considered in a general mathematical framework. A synaptic evolution scheme of a new kind is proposed in which incoming patterns rather than converging afferents compete. The change in the efficacy of a given synapse depends not only on instantaneous pre- and postsynaptic activities but also on a slowly varying time-averaged value of the postsynaptic activity. Assuming an appropriate nonlinear form for this dependence, development of selectivity is obtained under quite general conditions on the sensory environment. One does not require nonlinearity of the neuron's integrative power nor does one need to assume any particular form for intracortical circuitry. This is first illustrated in simple cases, e.g., when the environment consists of only two different stimuli presented alternately in a random manner. The following formal statement then holds: the state of the system converges with probability 1 to points of maximum selectivity in the state space. We next consider the problem of early development of orientation selectivity and binocular interaction in primary visual cortex. Giving the environment an appropriate form, we obtain orientation tuning curves and ocular dominance comparable to what is observed in normally reared adult cats or monkeys. Simulations with binocular input and various types of normal or altered environments show good agreement with the relevant experimental data. Experiments are suggested that could test our theory further.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Sex differences in neuron number in the binocular area of the rat visual cortex.

We have previously shown that the thickness of the binocular area of the primary visual cortex is sexually dimorphic in rats. In the present study, sex differences in the number of neurons in this cortical area were examined in nine littermate pairs of 90-day-old Long-Evans hooded rats. Cytoarchitectonic characteristics were used to define the binocular visual cortex, and its volume was estimated through three-dimensional reconstruction of serial coronal sections for each hemisphere. Neuronal and glial density as well as neuronal soma size were estimated from semithin sections through a stereological technique, the disector, in the same animals that were used to estimate volume. The volume of the binocular area was 19% greater in males than in females. While there were no sex differences in soma size or in neuronal density, the differences in the volume of the binocular area resulted in significant sex differences (male greater than female) in the number of neurons overall and in every layer, except layer IV. Glial density was not different between the sexes, but the total number of glial cells was higher in males than in females. These results demonstrate that the binocular visual cortex of the rat is sexually dimorphic in its volume and much of the difference is due to sex differences in the number of neurons and glial cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

A 10 Hz "alpha-like" rhythm in the visual cortex of the waking cat.

Rhythms at about 10 Hz were recorded from the primary visual cortex of the cat (anterior part of area 18), with characteristics close to those of the alpha rhythm in man: frequency band (7-14 Hz), localization and reactivity to visual stimulation. Coherence analysis of this activity with the "mu" rhythms on the somatosensory cortex showed that although both types develop in the same overall behavioural situations (quiet waking and/or expectancy of an event to occur), they are independent.

Alpha Rhythm↗
PubMed1985

Intrinsic connectivity and receptive field properties in visual cortex.

In order to obtain insights into the mechanisms by which the cells in primary visual cortex generate their receptive field properties, we have investigated the intrinsic cortical circuitry by intracellular recording and dye injection. The dye injection technique in combination with 3-dimensional computer graphic reconstructions from serial sections allows us to visualize the full dendritic and axonal arbors of cells. We have also studied cells that are postsynaptic to the injected cells by serial EM reconstruction of the postsynaptic dendrites. Taken together, this methodology has extended our knowledge of interlaminar and horizontal cortical connections, and we present hypotheses on the relationship between these connections and specific receptive field features.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Bayesian analysis of identification performance in monkey visual cortex: nonlinear mechanisms and stimulus certainty.

The identification performance of single neurons in the primary visual cortex was quantified by measuring how accurately one could know the stimulus based upon the neuron's response. We found that for a typical neuron a response of 10 action potentials, following one brief stimulus presentation, was sufficient to classify the stimulus as belonging to a relatively small region in stimulus space, with a high degree of confidence. The performance was better than that which could be attained through linear summation of excitation and inhibition alone. The results suggest that the enhanced performance is a consequence of two nonlinear mechanisms: contrast gain control and expansive response exponent.

Action Potentials↗