Properties of end-zone inhibition of hypercomplex cells in cat striate cortex

The response properties of 96 striate cells in anaesthetized and paralyzed cats were examined by using narrow optimally-oriented light bars moved in the preferred direction at optimal velocity. The bar was lengthened systematically at both ends to plot and analyze bilateral length-response curves. We found a linear relationship between the maximum slope of the inhibitory phase of the curve and the strength of the end-zone inhibition for both cell families: simple and B-cells. This observation indicates that the length of the two end-zones as given by a bilateral length-response curve is approximately constant regardless of the strength of the end-zone inhibition for a change in the strength of the inhibition from 10 to 100%.