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Centrifugal directional bias in the middle temporal visual area (MT) of the macaque

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 June 2009

Thomas D. Albright
Thomas D. Albright
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Princeton University, Princeton
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Abstract

We have examined the distribution of preferred directions of motion for neurons in the middle temporal visual area (MT) of the macaque. We found a marked anisotropy favoring directions that are oriented away from the center of gaze. This anisotropy is present only among neurons with peripherally located receptive fields. This peripheral centrifugal directionality bias corresponds well to the biased distribution of motions characteristic of optic flow fields, which are generated by displacement of the visual world during forward locomotion. The bias may facilitate the processing of this common form of visual stimulation and could underlie previously observed perceptual anisotropies favoring centrifugal motion. We suggest that the bias could arise from exposure of modifiable cortical circuitry to a naturally occurring form of selective visual experience.

Keywords

Extrastriate cortexVisual area MTMotionOptic flowDirectional bias
Type
Research Articles
Information
Visual Neuroscience , Volume 2 , Issue 2 , February 1989 , pp. 177 - 188
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1989

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