Summary
We have recorded from single cells in the perigeniculate nucleus (PGN) of the cat to determine their response properties. Quantitative tests have been conducted with sinusoidal gratings. Using optimal stimulus parameters, determined monocularly, we explored binocular interaction by varying the relative phase between dichoptically presented gratings. Monocularly, cells exhibit varying degrees of response specificities with respect to stimulus orientation and spatial frequency. Binocularly, we have identified six types of response. The most prominent, type 1, found for half the cells, is phase-specific binocular interaction at the fundamental frequency component of the drifting grating. For these cells, mean response rate is independent of interocular phase. The remaining types of binocular responses involve varying degrees of interaction at different harmonic components. For a quarter of the sample, no binocular interaction was observed. To investigate the role of cortical input to PGN, visual cortex was removed from some cats. Subsequent study of PGN cells indicated that response properties were generally similar to those found in intact animals. We conclude that PGN response properties are determined primarily by subcortical inputs.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ahlsen G, Lindström S (1982) Excitation of perigeniculate neurones via axon collaterals of principal cells. Brain Res 236: 477–481
Ahlsen G, Lindström S (1983) Corticofugal projection to perigeniculate neurones in the cat. Acta Physiol Scand 118: 181–184
Ahlsen G, Lindström S, Lo FS (1983)Maintained binocular connections to perigeniculate neurons in visual deprived cats. Acta Physiol Scand 119: 109–112
Ahlsen G, Lo FS (1982) Projection of brain stem neurons to the perigeniculate nucleus and the lateral geniculate nucleus in the cat. Brain Res 238: 433–438
Ahlsen G, Lindström S, Lo FS (1982) Functional distinction of perigeniculate and thalamic reticular neurons in the cat. Exp Brain Res 46: 118–126
Barlow HB, Blakemore C, Pettigrew JD (1967) The neural mechanism of binocular depth discrimination J Physiol (Lond) 193: 327–342
Boyapati J, Henry G (1984) Corticofugal axons in the lateral geniculate nucleus of the cat. Exp Brain Res 53: 335–340
Crick F (1984) Function of the thalamic reticular complex: the searchlight hypothesis. Proc Natl Acad Sci 81: 4586–4590
Dubin MW, Cleland BG (1977) Organization of visual inputs to interneurons of lateral geniculate nucleus of the cat. J Neurophysiol 40: 410–427
Enroth-Cugell C, Robson JG (1966) The contrast sensitivity of retinal ganglion cells of the cat. J Physiol (Lond) 258: 517–552
Ferster D, LeVay S (1978) The axonal arboretums of lateral geniculate neurons in the striate cortex of the cat. J Comp Neurol 182: 923–944
Freeman RD, Robson JG (1982) A new approach to the study of binocular interaction in visual cortex: normal and monocularly deprived cat. Exp Brain Res 48: 296–300
Hirsch JC, Fourment A, Marc ME (1982) Electrophysiological study of the perigeniculate region during natural sleep in the cat. Exp Neurol 77: 436–454
Hubel DH, Wiesel TN (1962) Receptive fields, binocular interaction and functional architecture in the cat's visual cortex. J Physiol (Lond) 160: 106–154
Hughes HC, Mullikin WH (1984) Brainstem afferents to the lateral geniculate nucleus of the cat. Exp Brain Res 54: 253–258
Ide LS (1982) The fine structure of the perigeniculate nucleus in the cat. J Comp Neurol 210: 317–334
Montero VM, Singer W (1984) Ultrastructure and synaptic relations of neural elements containing glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) in the perigeniculate nucleus of the cat. Exp Brain Res 56: 115–125
Mooney R, Dubin M, Rusoff A (1979) Interneuron circuits in the lateral geniculate nucleus of monocularly deprived cats. J Comp Neurol 187: 533–544
Ohara PT, Liberman AR (1981) Thalamic reticular nucleus: anatomical evidence that cortico-reticular axons establish monosynaptic contact with reticulo-geniculate projection cells. Brain Res 207: 153–156
Ohzawa I, Freeman RD (1986a) The binocular organization of simple cells in the cat's visual cortex. J Neurophysiol 56: 221–242
Ohzawa I, Freeman RD (1986b) The binocular organization of complex cells in the cat's visual cortex. J Neurophysiol 56: 243–259
Robson JA (1984) Reconstruction of corticogeniculate axons in the cat. J Comp Neurol 225: 193–200
Sanderson KJ (1971) The projection of the visual field to the lateral geniculate and medial interlaminar nucleus in the cat. J Comp Neurol 143: 101–118
Schmielau F (1979) Integration of visual and nonvisual information in nucleus reticularis thalami of the cat. In: Freeman R (ed) Developmental neurobiology of vision. Plenum, New York
Singer W (1977) Control of thalamic transmission by corticofugal and ascending reticular pathways in the visual system. Physiol Rev 57: 386–420
So YT, Shapley R (1981) Spatial tuning of cells in and around lateral geniculate nucleus of the cat: X and Y relay cells and perigeniculate interneurons. J Neurophysiol 45: 107–120
Timney B (1983) The effects of early and late monocular deprivation on binocular depth perception in cats. Dev Brain Res 7: 235–243
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Xue, J.T., Carney, T., Ramoa, A.S. et al. Binocular interaction in the perigeniculate nucleus of the cat. Exp Brain Res 69, 497–508 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00247304
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00247304