Linked Life Data

2257896

Source:http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/id/2257896

Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
1
pubmed:dateCreated
1991-1-31
pubmed:abstractText
The contribution of area 19 to pattern discrimination in the cat was studied by single cell recordings in this area and by behavioural experiments before and after bilateral lesions. In order to make quantitative comparisons between behavioural performance and that of cell systems, we introduced a new parameter that characterizes visual neurons by their signal-to-noise (S/N) thresholds. A structured visual background made up of Gaussian visual broadband noise which could be moved was superimposed on the signal (moving bars or outline patterns) and the S/N characteristics of the response were determined by varying the signal intensity. The detection performance of cats after bilateral lesion of area 19 showed no deficits. Only for slowly (11 deg/s) or quickly (110 deg/s) moving patterns, or when the background was moved relative to stationary patterns, did we find slight, but significant deficits in the low S/N range. However, when the S/N ratios were higher than 5, all cats achieved their full preoperative performances and no deficits remained. The S/N thresholds of neurons in area 19 were much higher than those found for neurons in areas 17 and 18. The lowest thresholds were found with a stationary background. Introduction of relative velocity between background and bar resulted in intermediate thresholds and the highest thresholds were observed for stimulus configurations lacking relative velocity. These effects correspond to the performance of the intact animal, in which introduction of relative motion increases the performance. The S/N thresholds did not correlate with levels of spike rate recorded at high S/N ratios, direction selectivity or speed preference, indicating that S/N threshold measurements provide a significant additional description of visual neurons. A limited number of area 19 cells recorded in area 17/18 lesioned animals showed very similar thresholds suggesting that this property may be independent of the intactness of areas 17 and 18. The residual performance by 17/18 lesioned cats in detecting small patterns corresponds well to the characteristics of the single cells of area 19. This suggests that area 19 might be able to make a considerable contribution to this task when areas 17/18 are eliminated, though by itself it seems not to be able to sustain the level of performance mediated by them. The contribution of area 19 is restricted to performances at high S/N ratios only.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:issn
0014-4819
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
82
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
107-22
pubmed:dateRevised
2009-11-11
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1990
pubmed:articleTitle
Contribution of area 19 to the foreground-background-interaction of the cat: an analysis based on single cell recordings and behavioural experiments.
pubmed:affiliation
Coleman and Epstein Laboratories, University of California, Department of Otolaryngology, San Francisco 94143.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't