Abstract
The distribution of optic chiasm input to different types of neurons in pericruciate cortex of cats agreed with previous work using light flashes. Neuron response times served to differentiate the input pathways to pericruciate cortex, and the types of neurons they influence. Input from the optic chiasm arrived in three distinct surges: the first via the superior colliculus, the second via an unidentified pathway, and the third via the visual cortex. A fourth, diffuse surge arrived in the postcruciate cortex via some unidentified pathway. Stimulation of the contralateral side of the optic chiasm had a weaker effect than stimulation of the ipsilateral side; it evoked activity at a higher threshold, with fewer spikes per response, and at a longer latency. The difference in response latency between the two sides was largest on neurons responding to the first surge, decreasing in later surges, and being least on those neurons responding to the last surge. About 2.3% of the postcruciate and 15% of the precruciate neurons responded only to optic chiasm stimulation; they were isolated in the granular layers, and their responses could not be influenced by prior cutaneous input. It is suggested that much of the visual input to pericruciate cortex serves to modulate on-going cortical output and, thereby, the behavior of the animal.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ascher P, Gachelin G (1963) Role du colliculus superieur dans l'élaboration des reponses pyramidales à une stimulation visuelle. C R Soc Biol (Paris) 157:1398–1404
Baker MA, Tyner CF, Towe AL (1971) Observations on single neurons recorded in the sigmoid gyri of awake, nonparalyzed cats. Exp Neurol 32:388–403
Bignall KE (1967) Comparison of optic afferents to primary visual and polysensory areas of cat neocortex. Exp Neurol 17:327–343
Bignall KE, Imbert M, Buser P (1966) Optic projections to nonvisual cortex of the cat. J Neurophysiol 29:398–409
Bishop PO, Jeremy, Lance JW (1953) The optic nerve. Properties of a central tract. J Physiol (Lond) 121:415–432
Bruner J (1965) Afferences visuelles non-primaires vers le cortex cerebral chez le chat. J Physiol (Paris) [Suppl 12] 56:1–120
Buser P, Ascher P (1960) Mise en jeu réflexe du system pyramidale chez le chat. Arch Ital Biol 98:123–164
Buser P, Bignall KE (1967) Nonprimary sensory projections on the cat neocortex. Int Rev Neurobiol 10:111–165
Buser P, Imbert M (1961) Sensory projections to the motor cortex in cats: a microelectrode study. In: Rosenblith WA (eds) Sensory communication. MIT, Cambridge, Mass., pp 607–626
Chang H-T (1956) Fiber groups in primary optic pathway of cat. J Neurophysiol 19:224–231
Chu N, Rutledge LT (1971) Multisensory activation of pyramidal tract neurons in the cat. Exp Neurol 30:352–361
Dubrovsky B, Garcia-Rill E (1971) Convergence of tectal and visual cortex input to pericruciate neurons. Exp Neurol 33:475–484
Gastaut H, Hunter J (1950) An experimental study of the mechanism of photic activation in idiopathic epilepsy. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol 2:263–287
Garcia-Rill E, Dubrovsky B (1971) Organization of visual input in cat motor-sensory cortex. Exp Neurol 33:597–606
Garcia-Rill E, Dubrovsky B (1973) Topographical organization of visual input to precruciate cortex of cat. Brain Res 56:151–163
Garcia-Rill E, Dubrovsky B (1974) Responses of motor cortex cells to visual stimuli. Brain Res 82:185–194
Harding GW, Stogsdill RM, Towe AL (1979) Relative effects of pentobarbital and chloralose on the responsiveness of neurons in sensorimotor cerebral cortex of the domestic cat. Neuroscience 4:369–378
Imbert M, Bignall KE, Buser P (1966) Neocortical interconnections in the cat. J Neurophysiol 29:382–395
Meulders M (1970) Integration contrale des afferences visuelles. J Physiol (Paris) 62:61–109
Nyquist JK, Towe AL (1970) Neuronal activity evoked in cat precruciate cerebral cortex by cutaneous stimulation. Exp Neurol 29:494–512
Satterthwaite WR, Burnham JA, Towe AL (1978) Wide-field conditioning effects on small-field neurons in the posterior sigmoid gyms of domestic cats. Exp Neurol 60:603–613
Slimp JC, Towe AL (1980) Effects of pudendal nerve stimulation on neurons in pericruciate cerebral cortex of male domestic cats. Exp Neurol 67:181–204
Slimp JC, Towe AL (1990) Spatial distribution of modalities and receptive fields in sensorimotor cortex of awake cats. Exp Neurol 107:78–96
Towe AL, Tyner CF, Nyquist JK (1976) Facilitatory and inhibitory modulation of wide-field neuron activity in postcruciate cerebral cortex of the domestic cat. Exp Neurol 50:734–756
Towe AL, Whitehorn D, Nyquist JK (1968) Differential activity among wide-field neurons of the cat postcruciate cerebral cortex. Exp Neurol 20:497–521
Videen TO (1981) Visual input to small-field and wide-field neurons in the postcruciate cortex of domestic cats. Exp Neurol 71:341–355
Wall PD, Remond AG, Dobson RL (1952) Studies on the mechanism of the action of visual afferents on motor cortex excitability. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol 5:384–395
Watanabe S, Konishi M, Creutzfeldt OD (1966) Postsynaptic potentials in the cat's visual cortex following electrical stimulation of afferent pathways. Exp Brain Res 1:272–283
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gahery, Y., Towe, A.L. Effect of optic nerve stimulation on neurons in pericruciate cortex of cats. Exp Brain Res 94, 273–278 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00230296
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00230296