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Visual area MT in the Cebus monkey: location, visuotopic organization, and variability
M Fiorani1, R Gattass, M G Rosa
1Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.
The Journal of Comparative Neurology
|September 1, 1989
Summary
This study maps the visual field representation in the dorsal superior temporal sulcus of Cebus apella monkeys. Area MT shows a magnified central visual field representation, with receptive field size increasing with eccentricity.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Primate Visual Cortex
Background:
- The dorsal superior temporal sulcus (ST) is crucial for visual processing.
- Understanding its organization, particularly area MT, provides insights into primate visual systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the visual field representation within the dorsal ST of Cebus apella.
- To distinguish area MT from surrounding visual areas based on visuotopic, myeloarchitectural, and receptive field properties.
Main Methods:
- Multiunit recordings were performed in anesthetized Cebus apella monkeys.
- Visuotopic mapping, myeloarchitecture (Heidenhain-Woelcke method), and receptive field analysis were employed.
- Cortical magnification factor and receptive field scatter were evaluated.
Main Results:
- Area MT, located in the posterior ST bank, represents the binocular visual field with magnification of the central field.
- Receptive field size and scatter increase with eccentricity.
- MT is surrounded by distinct visual areas (DZ, MST, FST) and shows specific myelination patterns.
Conclusions:
- The visual areas in Cebus apella's dorsal ST are comparable to those in Macaca, suggesting an ancestral simian trait.
- Observed differences in owl monkeys may represent adaptations to nocturnal life.