Skip to main content

Binocular neurons of the rabbit's visual cortex: Effects of monocular sensory deprivation

Experimental Brain Research volume 19, pages 196–204 (1974)Cite this article

Summary

Rabbits were reared with the eyelids of one eye sutured closed (monocular sensory deprivation) from birth to approximately six months of age. Single neurons were then recorded from the binocular region of the visual cortex contralateral to the deprived eye. Unlike similar neurons from the cat, these cells showed a) no evidence of lowered spontaneous activity rates or “sluggish” and “easily fatigued” responses, b) no evidence of “abnormal” receptive fields, c) very little change in relative binocularity, and d) no increase in the percentage that were “non-visual”. However, there was evidence for a) a decrease in the relative amount of clustering of preferred directions around horizontal and vertical, b) a shift in the distribution of binocular dominance toward the normally-experienced ipsilateral eye, and c) an increase in the percentage of binocular cells with non-identical receptive fields in the two eyes. These changes following prolonged periods of monocular sensory deprivation during rearing are taken as further evidence for the degree of dissimilarity between the binocular visual systems of the rabbit and the cat.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

43,34 €

Price includes VAT (Finland)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

References

  • Barlow, H.B., Pettigrew, J.D.: Lack of specificity of neurones in the visual cortex of young kittens. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 218, 98–100 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Berger, H.: Experimentell-anatomische Studien über die durch den Mangel optischer Reize veranlaßten Entwicklungshemmungen in Occipitallappen des Hundes und der Katze. Arch. Psychiat. Nervenkr. 33, 521–567 (1900)

    Google Scholar 

  • Blakemore, C., Cooper, G.F.: Development of the brain depends on the visual environment. Nature (Lond.) 228, 477–478 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Chow, K.L., Stewart, D.L.: Reversal of structural and functional effects of long-term visual deprivation in cats. Exp. Neurol. 34, 409–433 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ganz, L., Fitch, M., Satterberg, J.A.: The selective effect of visual deprivation on receptive field shape determined neurophysiologically. Exp. Neurol. 22, 614–637 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Goodman, L.: Effect of total absence of function on the optic system of rabbits. Amer. J. Physiol. 100, 46–63 (1932)

    Google Scholar 

  • Guillery, R.W., Stelzner, D.J.: The differential effects of unilateral lid closure upon the monocular and binocular segments of the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus of the cat. J. comp. Neurol. 139, 413–422 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hubel, D.H., Wiesel, T.N.: Receptive fields of cells in striate cortex of very young, visually inexperienced kittens. J. Neurophysiol. 26, 994–1002 (1963)

    Google Scholar 

  • —: Binocular interaction in striate cortex of kittens reared with artificial squint. J. Neurophysiol. 28, 1041–1059 (1965)

    Google Scholar 

  • Riesen, A.H.: The development of visual perception in man and chimpanzee. Science 106, 107 (1947)

    Google Scholar 

  • — Ramsey, R.L., Wilson, P.D.: Development of visual acuity in rhesus monkeys deprived of patterned light during early infancy. Psychonom. Sci. 1, 33–34 (1964)

    Google Scholar 

  • Sherman, S.M.: Visual development in cats. Invest. Ophthal. 11, 394–401 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • van Hof, M.W.: Discrimination of striated patterns of different orientation in rabbits deprived of light after birth. Exp. Neurol. 23, 561–565 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • —: Orientation discrimination in normal and light-deprived rabbits. Docum. ophthal. (Den Haag) 30, 299–311 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Sluyters, R.C., Stewart, D.L.: Binocular neurones of the rabbit's visual cortex: Receptive field characteristics. Exp. Brain Res. 19, 166–195 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Von Noorden, G.K., Dowling, J.E.: Experimental amblyopia in monkeys. II. Behavioural studies in strabismic amblyopia. Arch. Ophthal. 84, 215–220 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • —: Experimental amblyopia in monkeys. I. Behavioural studies of stimulus deprivation amblyopia. Arch. Ophthal. 84, 206–214 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wiesel, T.N., Hubel, D.H.: Single-cell responses in striate cortex of kittens deprived of vision in one eye. J. Neurophysiol. 26, 1003–1017 (1963)

    Google Scholar 

  • —: Comparison of the effects of unilateral and bilateral eye closure on cortical unit responses in kittens. J. Neurophysiol. 28, 1029–1040 (1965)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, P.D., Riesen, A.H.: Visual development in rhesus monkeys neonatally deprived of patterned light. J. comp. physiol. Psychol. 61, 87–95 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. Richard C. Van Sluyters

    Present address: The Physiological Laboratory, Cambridge University, CB2 3EG, Cambridge, England

Affiliations

  1. Division of Optometry, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA

    Richard C. Van Sluyters & David L. Stewaet

  2. Department of Psychology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA

    Richard C. Van Sluyters & David L. Stewaet

Authors
  1. Richard C. Van Sluyters
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. David L. Stewaet
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

National Institutes of Health, National Bye Institute Special Research Fellow.

This research was supported by an American Optometric Foundation Fellowship, a National Institutes of Health Postdoctoral Fellowship (No. NB 43, 275), and a National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship (No. 41005) awarded to Dr. Van Sluyters, as well as a National Institutes of Health Research Grant (No. PHS NS 9750-01) awarded to Dr. Stewart, and was submitted by Dr. Van Sluyters in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Ph.D. degree in Physiological Optics at Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Van Sluyters, R.C., Stewaet, D.L. Binocular neurons of the rabbit's visual cortex: Effects of monocular sensory deprivation. Exp. Brain Res. 19, 196–204 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00238534

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00238534

Key words

  • Rabbit
  • Sensory deprivation
  • Cortical electrophysiology