Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Functional organization in the cat's pulvinar complex

  • Published:
Experimental Brain Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

The responses of 192 single units in the cat's pulvinar-complex, comprising the inferior, medial and lateral pulvinar nuclei, were studied in paralysed cats, lightly anaesthetized with N2O/O2 supplemented with pentobarbitone. About 60% of the cells were visually driven and their receptive fields classified as either diffuse, concentric, movement sensitive, direction sensitive or orientation sensitive. The response fields of such cells were commonly large. Response field maps for the movement and direction sensitive cells formed a heterogenous population with uniform on-off fields to more complex arrangements with on- or off-centres, often with only partial surrounds; other cells responded exclusively to moving stimuli.

A dual representation of the visual field was found in the pulvinar-complex corresponding to the striate and tectal recipient zones described anatomically by others. The representation in the striate recipient zone comprised an oblique column running medio-laterally and rostrocaudally through the inferior pulvinar and lateral margin of the medial pulvinar. The peripheral visual field was represented laterally and the vertical meridian medially; the upper visual field was represented dorso-laterally in the medial pulvinar and the lower visual field caudo-ventrally within the inferior pulvinar. That this visuotopic organization corresponded to the striate recipient zone was established by tracing the retrograde transport of HRP. Medial to the striate zone evidence for a second visual field representation was found, apparently more randomly organized than the striate zone, corresponding to the presumed tectal recipient zone. These results support the assertion that cytoarchitectural boundaries do not necessarily delineate functional (visuotopically organized) regions. These observations suggest caution when comparing cytoarchitecturally defined regions between species; rather, ‘functionally equivalent’ regions should be compared.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abphlanalp, P.: The neuroanatomical organization of the visual system in the tree shrew. Folia primat. 16, 1–34 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ahmed, B., Hammond, P., Nothdurft, H.-Chr.: A reappraisal of the feline mesopic range. J. Physiol. (bond.) 266, 94P (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Altman, J.: Some fibre projections to the superior colliculus in the cat. J. comp. Neurol. 119, 77–95 (1962)

    Google Scholar 

  • Benevento, L.A., Rezak, M.: The cortical projections of the inferior pulvinar and adjacent lateral pulvinar in the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta): an autoradiographic study. Brain Res. 108, 1–24 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Benevento, L.A., Rezak, M., Santos-Anderson, R.: An autoradiographic study of the pretectum in the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta): Evidence for sensorimotor links to the thalamus and oculomotor nuclei. Brain Res. 127, 197–218 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Berman, N., Cynader, M.: Comparison of receptive field organization of the superior colliculus in Siamese and normal cats. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 224, 363–389 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Dow, B.M., Dubner, R.: Single-unit responses to moving visual stimuli in middle suprasylvian gyrus of the cat. J. Neurophysiol. 34, 47–55 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Fernald, R., Chase, R.: An improved method for plotting retinal landmarks and focusing the eyes. Vision Res. 11, 95–96 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Glendenning, K.K., Hall, J.A., Diamond, I.T., Hall, W.C.: The pulvinar of Galago senegalensis. J. comp. Neurol. 161, 419–458 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Godfraind, J.-M., Meulders, M., Veraart, C.: Visual properties of neurones in pulvinar, nucleus lateralis posterior and nucleus suprageniculatus thalami in the cat I. qualitative investation. Brain Res. 44, 503–526 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Graybiel, A.M.: Some extrageniculate visual pathways in the cat. Invest. Ophthal. 11, 322–332 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Graybiel, A.M., Devor, M.: A micro-iontophoretic delivery technique for use with horseradish peroxidase. Brain Res. 68, 167–173 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Harting, J.K., Diamond, I.T., Hall, W.C.: Evolution of the pulvinar. Brain Behav. Evol. 6, 424–452 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Heath, C.J., Jones, E.G.: The anatomical organization of the suprasylvian gyrus of the cat. Ergebn. Anat. 45, 1–64 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hubel, D.H., Wiesel, T.N.: Receptive fields, binocular interaction and functional architecture in the cat's visual cortex. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 160, 106–154 (1962)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hubel, D.H., Wiesel, T.N.: Receptive fields and functional architecture in two non-striate visual areas (18 and 19) of the cat. J. Neurophysiol. 28, 229–289 (1965)

    Google Scholar 

  • Jasper, H.H., Ajmone-Marsan, C.A.: A stereotaxic atlas of the diencephalon of the cat. Nat. Res. Ottawa: Council Publ. 1954

  • Kawamura, S.: Topical organization of the extrageniculate system in the cat. Exp. Neurol. 45, 451–461 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kawamura, S., Sprague, J.M., Niimi, K.: Corticofugal projections from the visual cortices to the thalamus, pretectum and superior colliculus in the cat. J. comp. Neurol. 158, 339–362 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kawamura, S., Niimi, K., Matsouka, H.: Thalamic origin cells of the afferent fibres to the suprasylvian gyrus in the cat. Anat. Rec. 184, 535 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kinston, W.J., Vadas, M.A., Bishop, P.O.: Multiple projection of the visual field to the medial portion of the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus and adjacent nuclei of the thalamus of the cat. J. comp. Neurol. 136, 295–316 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mason, R.: Cell properties in the medial interlaminar nucleus of the cat's lateral geniculate complex in relation to the transient/sustained classification. Exp. Brain Res. 22, 327–329 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mason, R.: Functional organization in the cat's dorsal lateral geniculate complex. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 258, 66–67P (1976a)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mason, R.: Responses of cells in the dorsal lateral geniculate complex of the cat to textured visual stimuli. Exp. Brain Res. 25, 323–326 (1976b)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mason, R.: Neuronal organization in the cat's pulvinar-complex. Neurosci. Letters (in press)

  • Mathers, L.H.: The synaptic organization of the cortical projection to the pulvinar of the squirrel monkey. J. comp. Neurol. 146, 43–60 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Nauta, W.J.H., Bucher, V.M.: Efferent projections of the striate cortex in the albino rat. J. comp. Neurol. 100, 257–286 (1954)

    Google Scholar 

  • Niimi, K., Kuwahara, E.: The dorsal thalamus of the cat and comparison with monkey and man. J. Hirnforsch. 11, 303–325 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ogren, M., Hendrickson, A.: Pathways between striate cortex and subcortical regions in Macaca mulatta and Saimiri sciureus: Evidence for a reciprocal pulvinar connection. Exp. Neurol. 53, 780–800 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Palmer, L.A., Rosenquist, A.C.: Visual receptive fields of single striate cortical cells projecting to the superior colliculus in the cat. Brain Res. 67, 27–42 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Palmer, L.A., Rosenquist, A.C., Tusa, R.: Visual receptive fields in lam. LGNd, MIN and PN of the cat. Soc. Neurosci. Abstr. 5, 54 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Partlow, G.D., Colonnier, M., Szabo, J.: Thalamic projections of the superior colliculus in the rhesus monkey, Macaca mulatta. A light and electron microscopic study. J. comp. Neurol. 171, 285–318 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Robson, J.A., Hall, W.C.: The organization of the pulvinar in the grey squirrel (Sciureus carolinenus). I. Cytoarchitecture and connections. J. comp. Neurol. 173, 355–388 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rockel, A.J., Heath, C.J., Jones, E.C.: Afferent connections to the diencephalon in the marsupial phalanger and the question of sensory convergence in the ‘posterior group’ of the thalamus. J. comp. Neurol. 145, 105–135 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Snider, R.S., Niemer, W.T.: A stereotaxic atlas of the cat brain. Chicago: University of Chicago Press 1961

    Google Scholar 

  • Spear, P.D., Baumann, T.P.: Receptive field characteristics of single neurones in lateral suprasylvian visual area of the cat. J. Neurophysiol. 38, 1403–1420 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Straschill, M., Hoffmann, K.P.: Response characteristics of movement detecting neurones in pretectal region of the cat. Exp. Neurol. 25, 165–176 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Suzuki, H., Kato, H.: Neurones with visual properties in the posterior group of the thalamic nuclei. Exp. Neurol. 23, 353–365 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Tretter, F., Cynader, M., Singer, W.: Cat parastriate cortex: a primary or secondary visual area? J. Neurophysiol. 38, 1099–1113 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Trojanowski, J.Q., Jacobson, S.: Areal and laminar distribution of some pulvinar cortical efferents in rhesus monkey. J. comp. Neurol. 169, 371–392 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Updyke, B.V.: Topographic organization of the projections from cortical areas 17, 18 and 19 onto the thalamus, pretectum and superior colliculus in the cat. J. comp. Neurol. 173, 81–122 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wright, M.J.: Responsiveness to visual stimuli of single neurones in the pulvinar and lateral posterior nuclei of the cat's thalamus. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 219, 32P (1971)

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Communication and Neuroscience, University of Keele, ST5 5BG, Keele, Staffs., UK

    R. Mason

Authors
  1. R. Mason
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Formerly the Research Department of Communication

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Mason, R. Functional organization in the cat's pulvinar complex. Exp Brain Res 31, 51–66 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00235804

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00235804

Key words

Search

Navigation