Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-hc48f Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-25T06:04:55.116Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Evoked responses to sinusoidal gratings in the pigeon optic tectum

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 June 2009

V. Porciatti ,
R. Alesci  and
P. Bagnoli
V. Porciatti
Affiliation:
Institute of Neurophysiology, C.N.R., Pisa, Italy
R. Alesci
Affiliation:
Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, University of Pisa, Italy
P. Bagnoli
Affiliation:
Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, University of Pisa, Italy
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Tectal evoked potentials (TEPs) in response to sinusoidal gratings of different contrast, spatial and temporal frequency have been recorded from the tectal surface of the pigeon. Responses have been digitally filtered in order to isolate transient oscillatory (fast) potentials (50–150 Hz), transient slow potentials (1–50 Hz), and the steady-state second-harmonic component (16.6 Hz). Transient slow potentials, as well as the steady-state second-harmonic component, are band-pass spatially tuned with a maximum at 0.5 cycles/deg and attenuation at higher and lower spatial frequencies. The high spatial frequency cutoff is 4–5 cycles/deg. Both transient slow potentials and the steady-state second-harmonic component increase in amplitude as a function of log contrast and saturate at about 20% contrast. The contrast sensitivity, as determined by extrapolating TEP amplitude to 0 V is 0.1–0.2%. These characteristics of spatial-frequency selectivity and contrast sensitivity are similar to those reported for single tectal cells. Unlike slow potentials, oscillatory potentials are not band-pass spatially tuned. In addition, their contrast response function does not saturate at moderate contrast. These differences suggest that tectal evoked slow and fast potentials reflect the activity of different neuronal mechanisms.

Keywords

Evoked potentialsSinusoidal gratingsOptic tectumPigeons
Type
Research Articles
Information
Visual Neuroscience , Volume 2 , Issue 2 , February 1989 , pp. 137 - 145
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1989

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Arden, G.B. & Vaegan, (1983). Electroretinograms evoked in man by local uniform or patterned stimulation. Journal of Physiology 341, 85–104.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Armington, J.C. (1974). The Electroretinogram. New York: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Bagnoli, P., Francesconi, W. & Pellegrino, M. (1981). Contrast sensitivity of neurons in pigeon optic tectum. Brain Research 223, 39–48.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bagnoli, P., Porciatti, V., Fontanesi, G. & Sebastiani, L. (1987). Morphological and functional changes in the retinotectal system of the pigeon during the early posthatching period. Journal of Comparative Neurology 256, 400–411.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bagnoli, P., Porciatti, V. & Francesconi, W. (1985). Retinal and tectal responses to alternating gratings are unaffected by monocular deprivation in pigeons. Brain Research 338, 341–345.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bagnoli, P., Porciatti, V., Francesconi, W. & Barsellotti, R. (1984). Pigeon pattern electroretinogram: a response unaffected by chronic section of the optic nerve. Experimental Brain Research 55, 253–262.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Clarke, P.G.M. & Whitteridge, D. (1976). The projection of the retina, including the “red area”, onto the optic tectum of the pigeon. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Physiology 61, 351–358.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cowan, W.M., Adamson, L. & Powell, T.P.S. (1961). An experimental study of the avian visual system. Journal of Anatomy 95, 545–563.Google ScholarPubMed
Hardy, O. & Jassik-Gerschenfeld, D. (1979). Spatial-frequency and temporal-frequency selectivity of single cells in the pigeon optic tectum. Vision Research 19, 1001–1004.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hardy, O., Leresche, N. & Jassik-Gerschenfeld, D. (1982). The spatial organization of the excitatory regions in the visual receptive fields of the pigeon's optic tectum. Experimental Brain Research 46, 59–68.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hodos, W. (1976). Vision and the visual system: a bird's eye view. In Progress in Psychobiology and Physiological Psychology, Vol. 6, ed. Sprague, J. M. & Epstein, A.N., pp. 29–62. New York: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Holden, A.L. (1976). The central visual pathways. In The Eye, ed. Davson, H., pp. 358–474. New York: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Holden, A.L. (1980 a). Unitary and field potential responses in the pigeon optic tectum evoked by luminous stimuli. Experimental Brain Research 39, 421–426.Google ScholarPubMed
Holden, A.L. (1980 b). Field potentials evoked in the avian optic tectum by diffuse and puntiform luminous stimuli. Experimental Brain Research 39, 427–432.Google Scholar
Holden, A.L. & Vaegan (1983). Vitreal and intraretinal responses to contrast reversing patterns in the pigeon eye. Vision Research 23, 561–572.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hunt, S.P., Streit, P., Kunzle, H. & Cuenod, M. (1977). Characterization of the pigeon isthmo-tectal pathway by selective uptake and retrograde movement of radioactive compounds and by Golgilike horseradish peroxidase labeling. Brain Research 129, 197–212.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Jassik-Gerschenfeld, D. & Hardy, O. (1979). Single neuron responses to moving sine-wave gratings in the pigeon optic tectum. Vision Research 19, 993–999.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Jassik-Gerschenfeld, D. & Hardy, O. (1984). The avian optic tectum: neurophysiology and behavioral correlations. In Comparative Neurology of the Optic Tectum, ed. Vanegas, H., pp. 649–686. New York and London: Plenum Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Korth, M. (1983). Pattern-evoked responses and luminance-evoked responses in the human electroretinogram. Journal of Physiology 337, 451–469.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Maffei, L. (1973). Spatial-frequency channels: neural mechanisms. In Handbook of Sensory Physiology, ed. Held, R., Leibowitz, H.W. & Teuber, H.-L., Vol. VIII, pp. 39–66. New York: Springer Verlag.Google Scholar
Maier, L., Dagnelie, G., Spekreijse, H. & Van Dijk, B.W. (1987). Principal components for source localization of visual evoked potentials in man. Vision Research 27, 165–177.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Miceli, D., Gioanni, H., Reperant, J. & Peyrichoux, J. (1979). The avian visual Wulst—I: An anatomical study of afferent and efferent pathways, II: An electrophysiological study of the functional properties of single neurons. In Neural Mechanism of Behavior in the Pigeon, ed. Granda, A.M. & Maxwell, J.H., pp. 223–254. New York: Plenum Press.Google Scholar
Porciatti, V., Francesconi, W. & Bagnoli, P. (1985). The pigeon pattern electroretinogram is not affected by massive loss of cell bodies in the ganglion cell layer induced by chronic section of the optic nerve. Documenta Ophthalmologica 61, 41–47.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Porciatti, V., Bagnoli, P. & Alesci, R. (1987 a). ON and OFF activity in the retinal and tectal responses to focal stimulation with uniform or patterned stimuli. Clinical Vision Sciences 2, 93–102.Google Scholar
Porciatti, V., Bagnoli, P., Alesci, R. & Fontanesi, G. (1987 b). Pharmacological dissociation of pattern electroretinogram and b-wave. Documenta Ophthalmologica 65, 377–383.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Regan, D. & Spekreijse, H. (1986). Evoked potentials in vision research 1961–1986. Vision Research 26, 1461–1480.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Samson, H.H. & Young, M.L. (1973). The relation of flash intensity and background illumination to the photic evoked potentials in the pigeon's optic tectum. Vision Research 13, 253–262.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Spekreijse, H., Dagnelie, G., Maier, J. & Regan, D. (1985). Flicker and movement constituents of pattern reversal response. Vision Research 25, 1297–1304.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sprague, J.M., Berlucchi, G. & Rizzolatti, G. (1973). The role of the superior colliculus and pretectum in vision and visually guided behavior. In Handbook of Sensory Physiology, ed. Held, R. & Leibowitz, H.W., Vol. VII/3, pp. 27102. New York: Springer Verlag.Google Scholar
Suzuki, T.A., Masuda, Y. & Jacobson, J.H. (1967). Distinct spike discharges in the evoked cortical response of the light adapted cat. Vision Research 7, 415–426.Google Scholar
Webster, K.E. (1974). Changing concepts on the central visual pathways in birds. In Essays on the Nervous System, ed. Bellairs, R. & Gray, E.G., pp. 258–298. Oxford: Clarendon Press.Google Scholar
Yamada, H. & Sano, Y. (1985). Immunohistochemical studies on the serotonin neuron system in the brain of the chicken (Gallus domesticus), II: The distribution of nerve fibers. Biogenic Amines 2, 21–36.Google Scholar