[Color properties of the receptive fields of visual cortex neurons in the squirrel]

The colour-sensitive properties of the visual cortex neurons were studied in the squirrel. All the neurons responded to achromatic, green and blue visual stimuli; responses to red stimuli were slight or absent. According to responses to patterned visual stimuli the neurons were classified as non-selective, directionally-selective and orientation-selective (simple and complex). No colour-opponent properties were revealed in any of these neuronal groups: neuronal responses were qualitatively the same to achromatic, green and blue stimuli, and the receptive fields organization was independent of the stimulus colour. These data are discussed with respect to the fact of presence of colour-opponent cells in the retina and lateral geniculate nucleus of squirrel.