Elaborate organization of visual cortex in the hamster

We have studied the organization of visual cortex in the hamster by analyzing and correlating the distributions of callosal and striate-extrastriate connections. Our results show that, in lateral extrastriate cortex, callosal connections form an elaborate pattern which delineates at least 3 regions poor in callosal connections. These regions receive projections from striate cortex which are distributed into multiple separate fields. Two additional striate-projection fields were observed in medial extrastriate cortex, and another field was often observed near the posterolateral border of primary somatosensory cortex. All striate recipient fields are reciprocally connected with striate cortex. The patterns of callosal and striate-extrastriate connections in the hamster are similar, although not identical, to the corresponding patterns in rats and mice. Our results provide evidence that the organization of visual cortex in the hamster is highly elaborate, and suggest that extrastriate cortex is subdivided into multiple visual areas.