Origin of orientation tuning in the visual cortex

doi:10.1016/0959-4388(92)90186-O

Current Opinion in Neurobiology

Volume 2, Issue 4, August 1992, Pages 498-501

https://doi.org/10.1016/0959-4388(92)90186-O Get rights and content

Abstract

The results of recent experiments have thrown new light on the neuronal connections underlying orientation-selective responses in the primary visual cortex of adult animals. The pattern of afferent input from the lateral geniculate nucleus to the cortex appears to be specific for orientation, while intracortical inhibitory connections appear to be non-specific in this respect. Experimental and theoretical studies have suggested that the development of cortical cell orientation tuning is an activity-dependent process.

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Cited by (32)

Sensitivity of striate neurons to Y-like figures: Experiment and simulation
2000, BioSystems
Under stimulation of the receptive fields (RF) of neurons in the cat area 17 by flashing Y-like figures of different shape and orientation, the sensitivity to these figures was revealed in 72% of the studied cells, while 62% of units were sensitive to cross-like figures as well. Tuning to Y-like figures was typically selective to their shape and orientation, but in some cases it was invariant to these features. Response magnitudes to single bar, Y-like figure and cross were positively correlated. Simulation showed that the disinhibition might be a sufficient mechanism for effective detection of Y-like figures in a classical receptive field.
Orientation tuning and receptive field structure in cat striate neurons during local blockade of intracortical inhibition
1998, Neuroscience
The contribution of intracortical inhibition to orientation tuning in the cat striate cortex (area 17) was studied by responses to flashing light bars of different orientations and lengths in 68 single-units before and during microiontophoretical application of bicuculline, a GABA_A antagonist, A three-fold increase in the background activity (13.3±1.3 vs 4.4±0.5 imp/s) and 4.4-fold increase in the maximal discharge frequency (264.4±22.3 vs 60.6±5.3 imp/s) was found in 96.0% of the cells studied during microiontophoresis. In most units all characteristics of orientation tuning significantly changed during application of bicuculline: i) tuning width increased in 76.3% of cells from 52.7±2.8° in control to 85.2±4.6°, ii) tuning selectivity diminished in 63.6% of cells by a factor of 1.5, and iii) tuning quality dropped in 68.5% of cases by a factor of 2.5. The threshold ejection current of bicuculline for widening of tuning was in 2/3 of the cells in the range from +10 to +40 nA (+31.0±4.5 nA) and the maximum effect was obtained in 3/4 of units with +30–+100 nA (+67.1±6.0 nA).
Unmasking of additional excitatory inputs to the studied cells due to blockade of the inputs from inhibitory interneurons is considered as the main mechanism of the described bicuculline effects.
The contribution of intracortical inhibition to dynamics of orientation tuning in cat striate cortex neurons
1998, Neuroscience
Orientation tuning of some neurons in cat visual cortex (area 17) revealed successive shifts of the preferred orientation and widening of tuning in time during the first 150 ms after onset of a flashing light bar. The mechanisms of these dynamics and the possible role of intracortical inhibition are still under discussion. In this study we analysed the dynamics using the time slice method before and during blockade of GABAergic inhibition by microiontophoretic application of bicuculline and observed two main types of neuronal behaviour. The first group of neurons (39 of 68 units or 57.4%) with relatively sharp tuning and absence or relatively small shifts of preferred orientation under control conditions increased or developed this shift during bicuculline application. Changes in tuning were observed between 30 and 150 ms after stimulus onset when inhibition was blocked. Neurons of the second group (29 units or 42.6% of cases) displayed pronounced shifts of preferred orientation under control conditions which was typically diminished or lost during blockade of inhibition.
The results indicate different contributions of intracortical inhibition to different neurons distinguishing by stability or time dependence of their orientation preference during normal response generation. In one group of striate cells orientation tuning was kept narrow and constant in time by intracortical inhibition, while in another group orientation tuning dynamics are induced by inhibitory mechanisms.
Visual contrast sensitivity in carbamazepine-resistant epileptic patients receiving vigabatrin as add-on therapy
1997, Journal of Epilepsy
In 40 adult patients with partial epilepsy resistant to carbamazepine (CBZ) monotherapy at the maximum tolerated individual doses, vigabatrin (VGB) was added to reduce seizure frequency further. In an attempt to evaluate potential drug-related visual side effects, visual contrast sensitivity (VCS), i.e., the ability to perceive minimal differences in luminance between adjacent regions of a grating visual pattern, was assessed before and monthly during a 6-month period of VGB add-on therapy and compared with that of a control group of healthy subjects. Twenty-eight patients completed the prescribed 6-month period of trial and were included in the statistical analysis. VCS measured during CBZ treatment showed a clear loss in all explored spatial frequencies. From the second month of VGB treatment on, VCS exhibited a progressive recovery, especially in the medium-frequency range, although only to a partial extent as compared with that in the controls. This effect saturated at the sixth month. Moreover, a different recovery of VCS to vertical and oblique gratings was observed, which likely suggests a drug effect on visual cortex. VGB add-on therapy was both well tolerated and effective in reducing seizure frequency.
A survey of architecture and function of the primary visual cortex (V1)
2007, Eurasip Journal on Advances in Signal Processing
Truncated radial glia as a common precursor in the late corticogenesis of gyrencephalic mammals
2023, eLife

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Current Opinion in Neurobiology

Abstract

References (28)

Influence of GABA-Induced Remote Inactivation on the Orientation Tuning of Cells in Area 18 of Feline Visual Cortex: a Comparison with Area 17

Neuroscience

EPSP-IPSP Interactions in Cat Visual Cortex Studied with In Vivo Whole-Cell Patch Recording

J Neurosci

Single Unit Activity in Lateral Geniculate Body and Optic Tract of Unrestrained Cats

J Physiol (Lond)

Receptive Fields, Binocular Interaction and Functional Architecture in the Cat's Visual Cortex

J Physiol (Lond)

Lateral Inhibition Between Orientation Detectors in the Cat's Visual Cortex

Exp Brain Res

An Intracellular Analysis of Visual Cortical Neurones Response to Moving Stimuli: Response in Cooperative Neural Network

Exp Brain Res

Uniformity of Monkey Striate Cortex: a Parallel Relationship Between Field Size, Scatter, and Magnification Factor

J Comp Neurol

Lack of Specificity of Neurones in the Visual Cortex of Young Kittens

J Physiol (Lond)

The Effect of Visual Experience on the Development of Stimulus Specificity by Kitten Cortical Neurones

J Physiol (Lond)

Innate and Environmental Factors in the Development of the Kitten's Visual Cortex

J Physiol (Lond)

Visual Cortical Cells: Their Developmental Properties in Normal and Dark-Reared Kittens

J Physiol (Lond)

Development of Neuronal Selectivity in Primary Visual Cortex of Cat

Physiol Rev

Early Postnatal Development of Neuronal Function in the Kitten's Visual Cortex: a Laminar Analysis

J Physiol (Lond)

Receptive Fields of Cells in Striate Cortex of Very Young, Visually Inexperienced Kittens

J Neurophysiol

Cited by (32)

Sensitivity of striate neurons to Y-like figures: Experiment and simulation

Orientation tuning and receptive field structure in cat striate neurons during local blockade of intracortical inhibition

The contribution of intracortical inhibition to dynamics of orientation tuning in cat striate cortex neurons

Visual contrast sensitivity in carbamazepine-resistant epileptic patients receiving vigabatrin as add-on therapy

A survey of architecture and function of the primary visual cortex (V1)

Truncated radial glia as a common precursor in the late corticogenesis of gyrencephalic mammals