Magnification factor and receptive field size in foveal striate cortex of the monkey

Exp Brain Res. 1981;44(2):213-28. doi: 10.1007/BF00237343.

Abstract

Receptive field size and magnification have been studied in striate cortex of awake, behaving rhesus monkeys at visual eccentricities in the range of 5-160 min. The major findings that emerge are (1) magnification in the foveola achieves values in the range of 30 mm/deg, (2) mean field size is not proportional to inverse magnification in contrast with previous reports, and (3) the product, magnification X aggregate field size, is greater in central vision than in peripheral vision. Thus, a point of light projected onto foveal retina is "seen" by larger numbers of striate cortical cells than a point of light projected onto peripheral retina. Implications of these findings for visual localization and two-point discrimination are discussed.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Macaca mulatta
  • Photic Stimulation
  • Retina / physiology*
  • Vision, Ocular
  • Visual Acuity
  • Visual Cortex / physiology*
  • Visual Perception*