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Rarity of luxotonic responses in cortical visual areas of the cat

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Summary

Neuronal responses to continuous, diffuse white light or darkness were studied in cortical visual areas 17, 18, 19 and Clare-Bishop of the unanesthetized cat. In contrast to squirrel monkeys and macaques in which about 40 or 25% of the units in striate cortex are luxotonic (response to continuous light or darkness sustained>2.0 min), all of the visual areas in the cat had fewer than 4.0% of the units exhibiting such luxotonic activity. The functional basis of this difference may be related to differences between the two species in the quantitative balance of antagonistic receptive field properties.

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This report is dedicated to the guidance and friendship of John R. Bartlett, deceased November 5, 1978 R. Bartlett, deceased November 5, 1978

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DeYoe, E.A., Bartlett, J.R. Rarity of luxotonic responses in cortical visual areas of the cat. Exp Brain Res 39, 125–132 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00237544

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00237544

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