Skip to main content
Log in

Spatial summation of excitation and inhibition in receptive fields of neurons in the lateral geniculate body of the cat and the influence of visual deprivation

  • Published:
Pflügers Archiv Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

  1. 1.

    The spatial summation in receptive fields of neurons in the lateral geniculate body (LGB) of the cat was measured with continuously changing round light stimuli which were modulated sinusoidally. The mean impulse frequencies and the position of the phasic discharge in relation to the stimuli were investigated as a function of the size of stimuli.

  2. 2.

    The on-center neurons showed small receptive field centers and marked inhibition by the surrounding at frequencies from 1.5 to 20 cps. In the off-center neurons the on-excitation from the periphery exceeded the on-inhibition from the center when the entire receptive field was stimulated. Characteristic shifting of the discharges was ascertained.

  3. 3.

    Neurons fed by the visually deprived eye showed reduced effects of the surrounding.

  4. 4.

    The mechanisms of inhibition that can be derived from the results and the changes in the LGB during visual deprivation are discussed.

Zusammenfassung

  1. 1.

    Die räumliche Summation in receptiven Feldern von Neuronen des Corpus Geniculatum Laterale (CGL) der Katze wurde mit kontinuierlich veränderten, runden, sinusförmig modulierten Lichtreizen unter dynamischen Bedingungen gemessen. Die mittleren Entladungsraten und die Lage der phasischen Reizantwort relativ zum Reiz wurden in Abhängigkeit von der Reizgröße untersucht.

  2. 2.

    Die on-Zentrum-Neurone zeigten kleine Feldzentren und eine starke Umfeldhemmung bei Reizfrequenzen von 1,5 bis 20 Hz. Bei den off-Zentrum-Neuronen überwog bei Reizung des gesamten Feldes meist die on-Erregung aus der Peripherie. Charakteristische Verschiebungen der Reizantwort wurden festgestellt.

  3. 3.

    Neurone vom okklusionsamblyopen Auge zeigten verringerte Umfeldeffekte.

  4. 4.

    Die aus den Ergebnissen abzuleitenden Hemm-Mechanismen und die Veränderungen im CGL bei experimenteller Okklusionsamblyopie werden diskutiert.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Büttner, U., Grüsser, O.-J.: Quantitative Untersuchungen der räumlichen Erregungssummation im receptiven Feld retinaler Neurone der Katze. I. Reizung mit zwei synchronen Lichtpunkten. Kybernetik4, 81–94 (1968).

    Google Scholar 

  • Eysel, U. Th., Gaedt, Chr.: Maintained activity in the lateral geniculate body of the cat and the effect of visual deprivation. Pflügers Arch.327, 68–81 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  • —, Grüsser, O.-J.: Neurophysiological basis of pattern recognition in the cat's visual system. 4. Kybernetik-Kongreß. Berlin-Heidelberg-New York: Springer 1971a.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eysel, U. Th., Grüsser, O.-J.: Spatial summation in different parts of the RF-center of the retinal ganglion cells of the cat. (In preparation) (1971b).

  • Freund, H.-J., Grünewald, G., Baumgartner, G.: Räumliche Summation im receptiven Feldzentrum von Neuronen des Geniculatum laterale der Katze. Exp. Brain Res.8, 53–65 (1969).

    Google Scholar 

  • Grüsser, O.-J., Schaible, D., Vierkant-Glathe, J.: A quantitative analysis of the spatial summation of excitation within the receptive field centers of retinal neurons. Pflügers Arch.319, 101–121 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  • Hubel, H. D.: A tungsten microelectrode for recording from single units. Science125, 549–550 (1957).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuffler, S. W.: Discharge patterns and functional organisation of mammalian retina. J. Neurophysiol.16, 37–68 (1953).

    Google Scholar 

  • Rodieck, R. W., Stone, J.: Analysis of receptive fields of cat retinal ganglion cells. J. Neurophysiol.28, 833–849 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  • Singer, W., Creutzfeldt, O. D.: Reciprocal lateral inhibition of on- and off-center neurons in the lateral geniculate body of the cat. Exp. Brain Res.10, 311–330 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  • Stone, J., Fabian, M.: Summing properties of the cat's retinal ganglion cell. Vision Res.8, 1023–1040 (1968).

    Google Scholar 

  • Szentágothai, H., Hámori, J., Tömböl, Th.: Degeneration and electron microscope analysis of the synaptic glomeruli in the lateral geniculate body. Exp. Brain Res.2, 283–301 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  • Wiesel, T. N., Hubel, D. H.: Effects of visual deprivation on morphology and physiology of cells in the cat's lateral geniculate body. J. Neurophysiol.26, 978–993 (1963).

    Google Scholar 

  • Wuttke, W., Grüsser, O.-J.: The conduction velocity of lateral inhibition in the cat's retina. Pflügers Arch.304, 253–257 (1968).

    Google Scholar 

  • ——: Die funktionelle Organisation der receptiven Felder von on-Zentrum-Neuronen der Katzenretina. Pflügers Arch. ges. Physiol.289, R 83 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Eysel, U.T., Flynn, J.T. & Gaedt, C. Spatial summation of excitation and inhibition in receptive fields of neurons in the lateral geniculate body of the cat and the influence of visual deprivation. Pflugers Arch. 327, 82–94 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00634100

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00634100

Key-Words

Schlüsselwörter

Navigation