Overlapping of Zones Producing Optical Responses to Cross-Shaped Figures and Segments of Lines in Different Orientations in the Primary Visual Cortex of the Cat

• Published in: Neuroscience and behavioral physiology Vol. 41; no. 6; pp. 586 - 590
• Main Authors: Ivanov, R. S., Lyamzin, D. R., Bondar, I. V., Kulikov, M. A., Shevelev, I. A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston Springer US 01-07-2011; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Behavioral Sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Cats; Data processing; Neurobiology; Neurons; Neurosciences; Physiology; Sensors; optical mapping; internal signal; bands; visual cortex; cross-shaped stimuli; cat
• ISSN: 0097-0549; 1573-899X
• DOI: 10.1007/s11055-011-9459-9

We report here the first studies of optical maps in the primary visual cortex of the cat constructed using internal signals and reflecting the population activity of detector neurons for first- and second-order image features on presentation of grids consisting of bars and crosses. Superimposition of maps of responses to the bars making up the crosses on maps of responses to crosses allowed assessment of overlapping cortical regions producing responses to these stimuli, as well as areas without overlap, i.e., those activated by only one of the stimuli. Overlapping is evidence of the packing of detector neurons in the corresponding orientation columns. Responses to straight and inclined crosses differed not only topographically, but also in terms of the extent of overlap. It is suggested that this results from different contributions being made by the detectors of bands of different types.