Orientation-dependent binocular interactions in area 21a of the cat

Neuroreport. 1997 Sep 29;8(14):3173-6. doi: 10.1097/00001756-199709290-00033.

Abstract

We investigated binocular interactions in area 21a cells of the anaesthetized cat. Visual stimuli were drifting sinusoidal gratings presented at the same optimal orientation in each eye (iso-oriented condition) or at the optimal orientation in the dominant eye and the orthogonal orientation in the other eye (orthogonal condition). In 68% of cells the response in the binocular iso-oriented condition was greater than the dominant eye monocular response, while in 88% of cells the response in the binocular orthogonal condition was less than the dominant eye monocular response. Our results suggest a possible role for this extrastriate region of cortex in binocular contour rivalry.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cats
  • Orientation / physiology*
  • Vision, Binocular / physiology*
  • Visual Cortex / physiology*