S cone contributions to the magnocellular visual pathway in macaque monkey

Neuron. 2002 Sep 12;35(6):1135-46. doi: 10.1016/s0896-6273(02)00874-7.

Abstract

The magnocellular visual pathway is believed to receive input from long (L) and middle (M), but not short (S), wavelength-sensitive cones. Recording from neurons in magnocellular layers of lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) in macaque monkeys, we found that magnocellular neurons were unequivocally responsive to S cone-isolating stimuli. A quantitative analysis suggests that S cones provided about 10% of the input to these cells, on average, while L:M ratios were far more variable. S cone signals influenced responses with the same sign as L and M cone inputs (i.e., no color opponency). Magnocellular afferent recordings following inactivation of primary visual cortex demonstrated that S cone signals were feedforward in nature and did not arise from cortical feedback to LGN

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Action Potentials / physiology
  • Animals
  • Color Perception / physiology*
  • Geniculate Bodies / cytology
  • Geniculate Bodies / physiology*
  • Macaca mulatta / anatomy & histology
  • Macaca mulatta / physiology*
  • Macaca radiata / anatomy & histology
  • Macaca radiata / physiology*
  • Photic Stimulation
  • Retinal Cone Photoreceptor Cells / physiology*
  • Synaptic Transmission / physiology
  • Visual Cortex / cytology
  • Visual Cortex / physiology*
  • Visual Fields / physiology
  • Visual Pathways / cytology
  • Visual Pathways / physiology*