[Binocular interaction in the visual cortex during changes in the intensity of monocular stimuli in different...

The characteristics of binocular interaction in the visual cortex were studied in rats and cats in conditions of dichotic presentation of monocular stimuli changing in intensity in opposite directions. Different combinations of stimuli intensities produced in intact animals a predominance of facilitation of binocular EPs. Depression of EPs was seen in rats subjected to weak contralateral and strong ipsilateral stimuli. After callosotomy EP facilitation in cats was less pronounced. In rats both effects of binocular interaction were enhanced and were recorded in conditions of photostimulation opposite to preoperational ones. It was found that the differences in the effects of binocular interaction before and after callosotomy resulted from changes in occlusional interrelations and elimination of transcallosal influences. An assumption is made that the effects of binocular interaction are largely responsible for specific characteristics of the formation of interhemispheric asymmetry in binocular vision.