RECEPTIVE FIELD PROPERTIES OF SINGLE UNITS FROM THE VISUAL PROJECTION TO THE IPSILATERAL TECTUM IN THE FROG

Abstract

The receptive field characteristics of single visual units in the ipsilateral tectum of the frog were investigated. In contrast to units in the contralateral tectum, ipsilateral units all responded to small visual stimulus objects and gave a sustained response to a small stationary black disk. Inhibition of this sustained response by a moving edge some distance from the ERF could be demonstrated and was more marked than with contralateral units. Some of the deeper ipsilateral units, in addition to the properties already mentioned, were excited by decremental dimming of the background illumination. The type of behaviour known as ‘changing contrast detection’ (class 3 units) in the contralateral tectum was not found ipsilaterally. © 1970 The Physiological Society