The velocity-response curves of the cat's superior colliculus neurons

The velocity-response curves of the cat's superior colliculus neurons responding to moving stimuli mere studied quantitatively. They were fitted by logarithmic Gaussian curves described by three parameters: optimal stimulus velocity, amplitude and dispersion of the curve. Since reversal of the stimulus movement direction changed neither optimal stimulus velocity nor dispersion of the velocity tuning curve, then the fourth parameter, directional asymmetry, is postulated to describe fully, in conjunction with three parameters mentioned above, the dependence of the neuron response to velocity and direction on the stimulus motion. All parameters were roughly normally distributed and uncorrelated with each other in the sample of cells investigated. Some implications of our results for the classification of cells, and some arguments for population coding” against single cell trigger feature coding are discussed.