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Adaptation changes the direction tuning of macaque MT neurons

Nature Neuroscience volume 7, pages 764–772 (2004)Cite this article

Abstract

Prolonged exposure to a stimulus, called 'adaptation', reduces cortical responsiveness. Adaptation has been studied extensively in primary visual cortex (V1), where responsivity is usually reduced most when the adapting and test stimuli are well matched. Theories about the functional benefits of adaptation have relied on this specificity, but the resultant changes in neuronal tuning are of the wrong type to account for well-documented perceptual aftereffects. Here we have used moving sinusoidal gratings to study the effect of adaptation on the direction tuning of neurons in area MT in macaques. Responsivity in MT is maintained best in the adapted direction and is strongly reduced for nearby directions. Consequently, adaptation in the preferred direction reduces the direction-tuning bandwidth, whereas adaptation at near-preferred directions causes tuning to shift toward the adapted direction. This previously unknown effect of adaptation is consistent with perceptual aftereffects and indicates that different cortical regions may adjust to constant sensory input in distinct ways.

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Figure 1: Diagram of the adaptation protocol.
Figure 2: Effect of adaptation in the preferred direction on the direction tuning of MT cells.
Figure 3: Effect of flank adaptation on the direction tuning of MT cells.
Figure 4: Effects of flank adaptation on responses to targets of different contrast.
Figure 5: Flank adaptation of V1 complex cells does not cause shifts in tuning.
Figure 6: End-of-flank and null adaptation in MT cells.
Figure 7: Changes in MT direction tuning as a function of adapting direction.
Figure 8: Changes in MT direction tuning after adaptation are consistent with perceptual effects.

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Acknowledgements

We thank W. Bair, S. Solomon, E. Simoncelli and N. Rust for comments on the manuscript; M. Smith and N. Majaj for assistance with data collection; and M. Hou and N. Doron for histology. This work was supported by a grant from the National Institutes of Health (EY02017) and by an Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigatorship to J.A.M.

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  1. Center for Neural Science, New York University, 4 Washington Place, Room 809, New York, 10003, New York, USA

    Adam Kohn & J Anthony Movshon

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Correspondence to Adam Kohn.

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Supplementary information

Supplementary Figure 1

Predicted shifts in perceived direction for a range of changes in neuronal tuning. (PDF 260 kb)

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Kohn, A., Movshon, J. Adaptation changes the direction tuning of macaque MT neurons. Nat Neurosci 7, 764–772 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/nn1267

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