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Response to motion in extrastriate area MSTl: center-surround interactions
1Laboratory of Sensorimotor Research, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA.
Journal of Neurophysiology
|July 11, 1998
Summary
Neurons in the medial superior temporal area (MSTl) show surround modulation, with responses changing based on surrounding motion. This suggests MSTl plays a role in object motion segregation.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Visual Cortex
- Primate Vision
Background:
- The medial superior temporal area (MST) in macaque monkeys is part of the extrastriate visual cortex.
- MST is divided into MSTd and MSTl, potentially with distinct functions.
- MSTd may process observer-generated optic flow, while MSTl might handle object-specific visual motion.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate mechanisms of object motion segregation in the MSTl region.
- To examine the influence of surround stimulation on MSTl neuron responses.
Main Methods:
- Recorded responses of MSTl neurons to visual stimuli.
- Tested the effect of surround stimuli (moving and stationary) on the response to center stimuli.
- Analyzed how surround motion direction (same or opposite to center) affected neuronal firing rates.
Main Results:
- MSTl neuron responses were significantly modulated by surround stimulation.
- Responses to center motion increased when surround motion was in the opposite direction or stationary.
- A substantial percentage of neurons showed enhanced responses with opposing or stationary surrounds, unlike MT neurons.
Conclusions:
- Surround stimulation profoundly affects MSTl neuron responses.
- These findings support a role for MSTl in segmenting objects from their background using motion cues.