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Binocularly deprived cats: binocular tests of cortical cells show regular patterns of interaction
1Group in Neurobiology, University of California, Berkeley 94720.
Abstract:
If an animal is prevented from receiving visual experience during an early developmental phase, pronounced dysfunctions are observed. Physiological tests reveal gross abnormalities in the striate cortex. Cells in visual cortex are either unresponsive of their response characteristics are erratic. Although fewer than normal numbers of binocular cells are found in cats reared with binocular lid suture, a population remains that can be activated by stimulation through either eye. We have studied cortical cells in binocularly deprived cats in order to specify monocular and binocular response characteristics. The primary hypothesis we have examined is that the abnormal response properties of these cells are a result of an irregular structure or substructure of the receptive fields. Kittens were binocularly lid-sutured soon after birth, and were studied physiologically at ages between 7 and 11 months. Standard techniques were used to record from single cells in striate cortex. Drifting gratings were presented to either eye or to both eyes together. In the latter case, the relative interocular phase was varied between the gratings so that the retinal disparity of the stimuli was changed. We confirmed the expected finding that most cells were either unresponsive or erratic in their response. Of the cells that responded, monocular tuning functions for orientation and spatial frequency of the stimulus were often irregular. However, even in these cases, binocular interaction patterns of cortical responses were nearly always highly regular and displayed phase-specific profiles. A model is presented that explains this finding and suggests how binocular deprivation may result in disorganized receptive-field structure.
Insights
Early visual deprivation in kittens causes severe visual cortex dysfunction. Despite abnormal cell responses, binocular interactions in deprived cats remain surprisingly regular, suggesting a specific impact on receptive field structure.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Visual System Research
Background:
- Early visual experience is critical for normal brain development.
- Visual deprivation during development leads to significant functional deficits in the visual cortex.
- Striate cortex abnormalities are observed in animals deprived of visual input.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the monocular and binocular response characteristics of cortical cells in binocularly deprived cats.
- To test the hypothesis that abnormal cell responses result from irregular receptive field structures.
- To understand the impact of early visual deprivation on visual cortex organization.
Main Methods:
- Kittens were binocularly lid-sutured shortly after birth.
- Physiological recordings were made from single cells in the striate cortex of 7-11 month old cats.
- Stimuli included drifting gratings presented to one or both eyes, with varying interocular phase to alter retinal disparity.
Main Results:
- Most recorded cells were unresponsive or showed erratic responses, confirming expected dysfunction.
- Monocular response tuning for orientation and spatial frequency was often irregular in responsive cells.
- Despite monocular irregularities, binocular interactions were consistently regular and phase-specific.
Conclusions:
- Binocular deprivation leads to disorganized receptive-field structure in the visual cortex.
- The regularity of binocular interactions suggests a specific mechanism underlying the effects of deprivation.
- A model is proposed to explain how irregular receptive fields arise from binocular deprivation.
