Responses of neurons in the pigeon's optic tectum to visual stimuli

Abstract

The responses by neurons in various layers of the pigeon's optic tectum to visual stimuli of different sizes moving at various speeds in receptive fields (RF's) were recorded by means of microelectrodes. Analysis of the relationship between the characteristics of the RF's and the location of neurons in the optic tectum showed that with increase in the depth of the layer the structure of the RF's became more complex, their size increased, the effect of peripheral inhibition decreased, and the properties of directional selectivity were displayed more clearly. A wide convergence of signals of different modalities on the efferent neurons of the optic tectum, and their rapid habituation to repeated application of stimuli, were observed.