[Spatial distribution and response interaction in the receptive fields of lateral geniculate body neurons in the cat]

A detailed comparison of responses of lateral geniculate neurons to local photic stimulation of central, antagonistic and disinhibiting zones of their receptive fields (RF) during local light adaptation of each zone was carried out in experiments on unanesthetized cats immobilized with d-tubocurarine. It was shown that most conditions of local adaptation of different RF zones activated neuronal on- and off-responses to stimulation of peripheral zones and depressed responses to flashes delivered to the central zone. Therefore under condition of local adaptation the geniculate neurons can produce intensive signals when photic stimulation switches on as well as switches off. The comparison of this fact with the known properties of on-off-channels allows suggesting that under condition of light adaptation the processing of large information volumes and more perfect performance of visual functions are connected with emergence of signals in different RF zones.