A systematic map of direction preference in primary visual cortex (original) (raw)

Nature volume 379, pages 725–728 (1996) Cite this article

Abstract

NEURONS in the primary visual cortex respond selectively to the orientation of edges and their direction of motion. Orientation preference is mapped in a systematic fashion across the cortical surface, such that neurons in adjacent columns have similar but slightly shifted preferred orientations1–7. Microelectrode studies have suggested that direction preference is also arranged in a systematic fashion8–10, but exactly how this response property is mapped remains unclear. Here we show by optical imaging4–5 of intrinsic signals6–7,11–14 in ferret cortical area 17 that there is a mosaic-like map of direction preference. This map consists of numerous regions within which direction preference changes in a slow, continuous fashion. These regions are separated by winding boundaries (fractures) across which direction preference shifts abruptly, often by 180 °. Comparison of direction and orientation preference maps shows that these fractures subdivide iso-orientation domains into regions selective for opposite directions of motion.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Subscribe to this journal

Receive 51 print issues and online access

$199.00 per year

only $3.90 per issue

Buy this article

USD 39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Additional access options:

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Hubel, D. & Wiesel, T. N. J. Physiol., Land. 195, 215–243 (1968).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  2. Hubel, D. & Wiesel, T. N. J. comp. Neurol. 158, 267–294 (1974).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  3. Hubel, D. & Wiesel, T. N. Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B 198, 1–59 (1977).
    ADS CAS PubMed Google Scholar
  4. Blasdel, G. G. & Salama, G. Nature 321, 579–585 (1986).
    Article ADS CAS Google Scholar
  5. Blasdel, G. G. J. Neurosci. 12, 3115–3138 (1992).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  6. Bonhoeffer, T. & Grinvald, A. Nature 353, 429–431 (1991).
    Article ADS CAS Google Scholar
  7. Bonhoeffer, R. & Grinvald, A. J. Neurosci. 13, 4157–4180 (1993).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  8. Payne, B. R., Berman N. & Murphy, E. H. Brain Res. 211, 445–450 (1981).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  9. Tolhurst, D. J., Dean, A. F. & Thompson, I. D. Expl Brain Res. 44, 340–342 (1981).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  10. Swindale, N. V., Matsubara, J. A. & Cynader, M. S. J. Neurosci. 7, 1414–1427 (1987).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  11. Frostig, R. D., Lieke, E. E., Ts'o, D. Y. & Grinvald, A. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 87, 6082–6086 (1990).
    Article ADS CAS Google Scholar
  12. Weliky, M. & Katz, L. C. J. Neurosci. 14, 7291–7305 (1994).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  13. Weliky, M., Kandler, K., Fitzpatrick, D. & Katz, L. C. Neuron 15, 541–552 (1995).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  14. Malonek, D., Tootell, R. B. H. & Grinvald, A. Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B 258, 109–119 (1994).
    Article ADS CAS Google Scholar
  15. Swindale, N. V. Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B 215, 211–230 (1982).
    ADS CAS PubMed Google Scholar
  16. Braitenberg, V. & Braitenberg, C. Biol. Cybern. 33, 179–186 (1979).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  17. Fitzpatrick, D., Schofield, B. R. & Strote, J. Soc. Neurosci. Abstr. 20, 837 (1994).
    Google Scholar

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurobiology, Duke University Medical Center, Box 3209, Durham, North Carolina, 27710, USA
    Michael Weliky, William H. Bosking & David Fitzpatrick

Authors

  1. Michael Weliky
  2. William H. Bosking
  3. David Fitzpatrick

Rights and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Weliky, M., Bosking, W. & Fitzpatrick, D. A systematic map of direction preference in primary visual cortex.Nature 379, 725–728 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1038/379725a0

Download citation

This article is cited by