Differences in spectral response properties of LGN cells in male and female squirrel monkeys

The spectral response patterns of single cells recorded from the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) of the squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus) were examined in light of recent behavioral evidence indicating that there are significant variations in visual sensitivity and color vision within this species. The principal results from an analysis of data obtained from 1084 LGN cells were that (a) a significantly higher proportion of cells showing spectrally-opponent response patterns were recorded from female subjects, and (b) the proportion of spectrally-opponent units showing RG response patterns is very much higher in females than in males. These gender-related differences in the response patterns of LGN cells are discussed in the context of the behavioral results.