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"Third tier" ventral extrastriate cortex in the New World monkey, Cebus apella
M G Rosa1, M C Piñon, R Gattass
1Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Queensland, Australia.
Experimental Brain Research
|July 7, 2000
Summary
Researchers studied the ventral extrastriate cortex in Cebus apella monkeys. They found an area representing the upper visual quadrant, likely homologous to Old World monkey V3v, extending beyond ventral cortex.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Comparative anatomy
- Visual cortex research
Background:
- The organization of the extrastriate visual cortex varies between primate species.
- Understanding homologous areas is crucial for comparative neuroscience.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the visuotopic organization and myeloarchitecture of the ventral extrastriate cortex in the New World monkey Cebus apella.
- To determine the homology of this region with visual areas in Old World monkeys.
Main Methods:
- Electrophysiological recordings in anaesthetised Cebus apella preparations.
- Analysis of visuotopic mapping and myeloarchitecture.
Main Results:
- Identified a distinct cortical strip (3-4 mm wide) representing the upper visual quadrant up to 60 degrees eccentricity.
- This area, likely V3v, borders V2 and V4 and extends into dorsolateral cortex.
- No lower quadrant representation was found in the adjacent ventral cortex.
Conclusions:
- The ventral extrastriate cortex in Cebus apella contains an area homologous to V3v, extending beyond the ventral surface.
- This suggests V3v is part of a larger area, challenging previous notions of its restricted ventral location.
- Findings support continuity between ventral and lateral extrastriate cortices in New World monkeys.