Temporal encoding of two-dimensional patterns by single units in primate primary visual cortex. I. Stimulus-response relations.

摘要: 1. Previously we developed a new approach for investigating visual system neuronal activity in which single neurons are considered to be communication channels transmitting stimulus-dependent codes their responses. Application of this the stimulus-response relations inferior temporal (IT) showed that these carry information modulation as well strength IT cortex is late station processing stream. Presumably properties arise from inputs. However, discovery spike trains transmit temporally modulated could not assumed true those earlier stations, so techniques used study were applied single-striate cortical studies reported here. 2. Single-striate recorded three awake, fixating rhesus monkeys. The stimulated by two sets patterns. first set was made up 128 black-and-white patterns based on complete, orthogonal two-dimensional Walsh-Hadamard functions. These stimuli appear combinations rectangles and squares, they fully span range all possible pictures can constructed an 8 x grid. Except stimulus appeared all-white or all-black square, each had equal areas white black. second bars same grid Walsh stimuli. presented both black against gray background background. centered receptive field, member once before any again. 3. responses 21 striate analyzed. Two identified simple cells other 19 complex according criteria originally Hubel Wiesel. elicited wide variety response strengths neuron. differentiate classify cells. 4. striking stimulus-related modulation. For there instances where its contrast-reversed mate substantially different pattern, both.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)