Vernier acuity of neurones in cat visual cortex

摘要: The ability of human observers to detect Vernier breaks as little 5s arc has been termed hyperacuity1 this distance is substantially less than the angular separation bars highest spatial frequency grating (˜1 min) that can be detected. Although visual cortex a likely candidate for location detectors involved in performance2, it not known whether there are cells sensitive enough deviations from co-linearity small compared with their resolution (defined terms cell detect). We report here results physiological experiments on single units area 17 cat which we studied effect introducing break into bar stimulus moved across receptive field at constant velocity. Our show responses most simple and complex significantly reduced by introduction smaller cell. our sample could discriminate offsets 3–6 min reliability ˜70%. This was much resolution, range 25–30 min. interpret these mechanisms underly orientation selectivity cortical neurones suggest how relate acuity.