Disparity-Based Coding of Three-Dimensional Surface Orientation by Macaque Middle Temporal Neurons

摘要: Gradients of binocular disparity across the visual field provide a potent cue to three-dimensional (3-D) orientation surfaces in scene. Neurons selective for 3-D surface defined by gradients have recently been described parietal cortex, but little is known about where and how this selectivity arises within pathways. Because middle temporal area (MT) has previously implicated depth perception, we tested whether MT neurons could signal (as parameterized tilt slant) planar that were depicted random-dot stereograms containing linear gradient horizontal disparities. We find many are tuned orientation, slant generally independent effects on responses. This separable coding reminiscent joint variables other areas (e.g., spatial frequency V1). show tuning remains unchanged when all coherent motion removed from stimuli, indicating not byproduct velocity coding. Moreover, typically insensitive changes mean (depth) cannot be explained conventional frontoparallel Finally, explore receptive mechanisms underlying through heterogeneous fields neurons. Our findings carry high-level signals structure, addition retinal image velocities.