The receptive fields of on- and off-center parasol cell mosaics independently tile the retina to ensure efficient sampling of visual space. A recent theoretical model represented the on- and off-center mosaics by noisy hexagonal lattices of slightly different density. When the two lattices are overlaid, long-range Moiré interference patterns are generated. These Moiré interference patterns have been suggested to drive the formation of highly structured orientation maps in visual cortex. Here, we show that noisy hexagonal lattices do not capture the spatial statistics of parasol cell mosaics. An alternative model based upon local exclusion zones, termed as the pairwise interaction point process (PIPP) model, generates patterns that are statistically indistinguishable from parasol cell mosaics. A key difference between the PIPP model and the hexagonal lattice model is that the PIPP model does not generate Moiré interference patterns, and hence stimulated orientation maps do not show any hexagonal structure. Finally, we estimate the spatial extent of spatial correlations in parasol cell mosaics to be only 200–350 μm, far less than that required to generate Moiré interference. We conclude that parasol cell mosaics are too disordered to drive the formation of highly structured orientation maps in visual cortex.

For over 30 years there has been a controversy over whether color-defined motion can be perceived by the human visual system. Some results suggest that there is no chromatic motion mechanism at all, whereas others do find evidence for a purely chromatic motion mechanism. Here we examine the chromatic input to global motion processing for a range of color directions in the photopic luminance range. We measure contrast thresholds for global motion identification and simple detection using sparse random-dot kinematograms. The results show a discrepancy between the two chromatic axes: whereas it is possible for observers to perform the global motion task for stimuli modulated along the red–green axis, we could not assess the contrast threshold required for stimuli modulated along the yellowish-violet axis. The contrast required for detection for both axes, however, are well below the contrasts required for global motion identification. We conclude that there is a significant red–green input to global motion processing providing further evidence for the involvement of the parvocellular pathway. The lack of S-cone input to global motion processing suggests that the koniocellular pathway mediates the detection but not the processing of complex motion for our parameter range.

Almost 40 years ago, Davida Teller developed the forced-choice preferential looking method for studying infant visual capabilities and used it to study infant color vision. About 10 years ago, she used infant looking preferences to study infant color perception. Here, we examine four data sets in which the infant looking preference was measured using a wide range of saturated colors. Three of those data sets, from papers by Marc Bornstein and by Davida Teller and Anna Franklin and their respective collaborators, were fit successfully using MacLeod and Boynton’s model of the equiluminant plane in color space, in spite of the varied luminances used in those studies. A fourth data set, from a paper by Zemach, Chang, and Teller, was less well fit by that model. Apparently, infants are able to ignore luminance, and pay attention just to the color of stimuli. These results are discussed in the context of Davida Teller’s work on the philosophy of vision science.

Electrophysiological studies of the isolated retina involve perfusing the tissue with a physiological Ringer's. Organic pH buffers such as HEPES have become increasingly popular in recent years because for many purposes they offer a convenient and reliable alternative to the more traditional bicarbonate/CO2. In this paper, however, we report that important functional properties of rods, bipolar cells, and horizontal cells in the salamander, Ambystoma tigrinum, are sensitive to the choice of buffer and, in the case of horizontal cells, that sensitivity is acute. In bicarbonate/CO2 Ringer's, the dark potential of the horizontal cell was typically near −50 mV and saturating light caused it to hyperpolarize to about −75 mV. On switching to HEPES-buffered Ringer's at the same pH, horizontal cells depolarized in darkness to about −20 mV, close to the chloride equilibrium potential, and the kinetics of their light responses changed. The cone-driven components of light responses increased in size relative to rod-driven components. Saturating lights still hyperpolarized the cells to −75 mV, however. Horizontal cells, being coupled via gap junctions, form a syncytium and syncytial length constants, measured in bicarbonate/CO2 Ringer's, were generally in the range 150–225 μm. On switching to HEPES-buffered Ringer's, length constants increased substantially to 250–330 μm. All these changes were reversible. We discuss our findings within the context of the cell's ability to regulate its internal pH.

The Atlantic tarpon, Megalops atlanticus, is a large piscivorous fish that supports economically important recreational fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and Florida Atlantic coast. Megalops atlanticus undergoes ontogenetic shifts in morphology, hatching in the open ocean as larvae (less than 1 cm in length), moving into hypoxic turbid mangrove marshes as juveniles (around 10 cm in length), and then moving into coastal oceanic waters as adults (over 100 cm in length). In this study, photoreceptor distributions, opsin distributions, and photoreceptor absorbance characteristics were studied with light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, antiopsin immunofluorescence, and microspectrophotometry, respectively, at four ecologically distinct life-history stages—premetamorphic larva, settlement stage, juvenile, and adult. The purposes of this study were 1) to determine the extent to which the retina of M. atlanticus changes over the course of development and 2) to relate these retinal changes with ecological shifts between developmental stages. The new data presented here indicate that the M. atlanticus retina changes substantially in rod and cone distributions and absorbance characteristics over the course of development and that these changes correlate closely with those in habitat and behavior. We show that M. atlanticus has a rod-dominated retina at the larval stage (which is unusual for teleost larvae) and that the scotopic visual system becomes far better developed with maturity, adding a substantial tapetum and high densities of small, bundled, and stacked rod cells. We also show that there are shifts in cone and rod spectral sensitivities and an increase in the diversity of spectrally distinct cone classes, including the addition of ultraviolet cones as fish mature into adults.

We have developed a method that utilizes repeated sequences of pseudorandomly modulated stimuli for calculation of the SNR either in the time or frequency domains. The method has the advantage that the distribution of SNR over relevant frequencies is readily observed. In addition, a SNR value, calculated as the ratio of the corresponding variances, is an estimate of the true SNR because it has been weighted by the cell's frequency response. The procedure offers significant advantages when studying signal transmission in nonspiking cells like photoreceptors.

The present study has examined the spatial and temporal expression patterns of various proteins associated with the structure and function of mature photoreceptor outer segments in the developing ferret's retina using immunocytochemistry and RT-PCR. One set of proteins, including rod opsin, arrestin, and recoverin, was detected progressively in photoreceptors as they became postmitotic, being expressed well before the differentiation of outer segments. A second set of proteins, including β- and γ-transducin, cGMP-phosphodiesterase, phosducin, rhodopsin kinase, rod cGMP-gated cation channel protein, and peripherin, displayed a contrasting temporal onset and pattern of spatial emergence. These latter proteins first became detectable either shortly before or coincident with outer segment formation, and were expressed simultaneously in both older and younger photoreceptor cells. A third set, the short wavelength-sensitive (SWS) and medium wavelength-sensitive (MWS) cone opsin proteins, was the last to be detected, but materialized in a spatio-temporal pattern reminiscent of the neurogenetic gradient of the cones. These different spatial and temporal patterns indicate that cellular maturation must play a primary role in regulating the onset of expression of some of these proteins, while extrinsic signals must act to coordinate the expression of other proteins across photoreceptors of different ages.

A stimulus located outside the classic receptive field (CRF) of a striate cortical neuron can markedly influence its behavior. To study this phenomenon, we recorded from two cortical sites, recorded and peripheral, with separate electrodes in cats anesthetized with Propofol and nitrous oxide. The receptive fields of each site were discrete (2–7.3 deg between centers). A control orientation tuning (OT) curve was measured for a single recorded cell with a drifting grating. The OT curve was then remeasured while stimulating simultaneously the cell's CRF as well as the peripheral site with a stimulus optimized for that location. For 22/60 cells, the peripheral stimulus suppressed the peak response and/or shifted the center of mass of the OT curve. For 19 of these 22 cells, we then reversibly blocked stimulus-driven activity at the peripheral site by iontophoretic application of GABA (0.5 M). For 6/19 cells, the response returned to control levels, implying that for these cells the inhibitory influence arose from the blocked site. The responses of nine cells remained reduced during inactivation of the peripheral site, suggesting that influence was generated outside the region of local block in area 17. This is consistent with earlier findings suggesting that modulatory influences can originate from higher cortical areas. Three cells had mixed results, suggesting multiple origins of influence. The response of each cell returned to suppressed levels after dissipation of the GABA and returned to baseline values when the peripheral stimulus was removed. These findings support a cortical model in which a cell's response is modulated by an inhibitory network originating from beyond the receptive field that supplants convergence of excitatory lateral geniculate neurons.

The ganglion cell layer of mammalian retina contains numerous amacrine cells. Many belong to one type, the cholinergic starburst cell, but the other types have not been systematically identified. Using a new method to target sparsely represented cell types, we filled about 200 amacrine neurons in the ganglion cell layer of the guinea pig visual streak and identified 11 types. Ten of these resemble types identified in other species with somas in the inner nuclear layer, but one type has not been previously reported. Most of the types and nearly all the injected cells (95%) arborized low in the synaptic layer where they would co-stratify with various classes of ON ganglion cell. The displaced somas (7% of all amacrine cells) thus represent a heterogeneous pool, which are relatively accessible for study of their interactions with ON ganglion cells.

Nitric oxide (NO) is known to exert multiple effects on the function of many retinal neurons and their synapses. Therefore, it is equally important to understand the potential sources of NO within the retina. To explore this, we employ a combination of 4-amino-5-methylamino-2′,7′-difluorofluorescein diacetate (DAF-FM) based NO detection and immunohistochemistry for the NO synthetic enzymes, neuronal and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (nNOS and eNOS). We find DAF signals in photoreceptors, horizontal cells, amacrine cells, efferent synapses, Müller cells, and cells in the ganglion cell layer (GCL). nNOS immunoreactivity was consistent with the DAF signal with the exception that horizontal cells and Müller cells were not clearly labeled. eNOS-like immunoreactivity (eNOS-LI) was more widespread with photoreceptors, horizontal cells, occasional bipolar cells, amacrine cells, Müller cells, and cells in the GCL all showing labeling. Double labeling with antibodies raised against calretinin, syntaxin, and glutamine synthetase confirmed that horizontal cells, amacrine cells, and Müller cells (respectively) were expressing eNOS-LI. Although little or no nNOS labeling is observed in horizontal cells or Müller cells, the expression of eNOS-LI is consistent with the ability of these cells to produce NO. Together these results suggest that the capability to produce NO is widespread in the chicken retina. We propose that multiple forms of regulation for nNOS and eNOS play a role in the patterning of NO production in the chicken retina.

We evaluated the generality of two models of vertebrate phototransduction. The approach was to quantitatively optimize each model to the full waveform of high-quality, dark-adapted (DA), salamander rod flash responses. With the optimal parameters, each model was then used to account for signature, qualitative features of rod responses from three experimental paradigms (stimulus/response, “S/R suite”): (1) step responses; (2) the intensity dependence of the period of photocurrent saturation (Tsatvs. ln(I)); and (3) light-adapted (LA) incremental flash sensitivity as a function of background intensity. The first model was the recent successful model of Nikonov et al. (1998). The second model replaced the instantaneous Ca2+ buffering used in the Nikonov et al. model with a dynamic buffer. The results showed that, in the absence of the dynamic Ca2+ buffer, the Nikonov et al. model does not have sufficient flexibility to provide a good fit to the flash responses, and, using the same parameters, reproduce the salient features of the S/R suite—critical features at step onset and offset are absent; the Tsat function has too shallow a slope; and the model cannot generate the empirically observed I-range of Weber–Fechner LA behavior. Some features could be recovered by changing parameters, but only at the expense of the fit to the reference (Ref) data. When the dynamic buffer is added, the model is able to achieve an acceptable fit to the Ref data while reproducing several features of the S/R suite, including an empirically observed Tsat function, and an extended range of LA flash sensitivity adhering to Weber's law. The overall improved behavior of the model with a dynamic Ca2+ buffer indicates that it is an important mechanism to include in a working model of phototransduction, and that, despite the slow kinetics of amphibian rods, Ca2+ buffering should not be simulated as an instantaneous process. However, neither model was able to capture all the features with the same parameters yielding the optimal fit to the Ref data. In addition, neither model could maintain a good fit to the Ref data when five key biochemical parameters were held at their current known values. Moreover, even after optimization, a number of important parameters remained outside their empirical estimates. We conclude that other mechanisms will need to be added, including additional Ca2+-feedback mechanisms. The present research illustrates the importance of a hybrid qualitative/quantitative approach to model development, and the limitations of modeling restricted sets of data.

We have studied the presence and distribution of α-amino-3–hydroxy-5–methyl-4–isoxazolepropionate (AMPA)-selective glutamate receptor subunits (GluR 1, 2, 3, and 4) in the adult cat visual cortical areas 17, 18, 19, and the lateral suprasylvian areas (LSA). Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) amplification indicated that the genes encoding GluR 1, 2, 3, and 4 are expressed in these areas and Western blot analysis revealed that the size of the corresponding peptides is similar to those described in the rat brain. In situ hybridization (ISH) using digoxigenin-labeled riboprobes showed that mRNAs coding for GluR1 and GluR3 were located in cells in all layers of the areas examined and also in the underlying white matter. GluR1 mRNA was relatively abundant throughout layers II–VI while GluR3 mRNA revealed a more laminated pattern of expression, preferentially labeling cells in layers II, III, V, and VI. The distribution of AMPA-selective receptor subunit peptides was studied by immunohistochemistry using subunit specific antibodies and found to be consistent with ISH results. In addition, we observed that most of the cells strongly labeled by the anti-GluR1 antibody were non-pyramidal neurons and that intense GluR2/3 immunoreactivity was seen preferentially in pyramidal neurons. Interestingly, double-labeling experiments indicated that neurons expressing γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) as well as the GluR1 subunit were particularly abundant in deeper layers. The GluR4 peptide was predominantly found in a relatively low number of layer III and layer V neurons with either pyramidal or non-pyramidal morphology. Finally, the distribution of neurons expressing the various receptor subunits was similar in all the visual cortical areas studied. These findings indicate a high expression of GluR1–3 subunits in the cat visual cortex and that GluR1 and GluR2/3 subunits are particularly abundant in non-pyramidal and pyramidal neurons, respectively. In addition, the results described here provide a reference for future studies dealing with the effect of visual deprivation on the expression of this receptor type.

Increment threshold functions of the electroretinogram (ERG) b–wave were obtained from goldfish using an in vivo preparation to study intraretinal mechanisms underlying the increase in perceived brightness induced by depletion of retinal dopamine by 6–hydroxydopamine (6–OHDA). Goldfish received unilateral intraocular injections of 6–OHDA plus pargyline on successive days. Depletion of retinal dopamine was confirmed by the absence of tyrosine-hydroxylase immunoreactivity at 2 to 3 weeks postinjection as compared to sham-injected eyes from the same fish. There was no difference among normal, sham-injected or 6–OHDA-injected eyes with regard to ERG waveform, intensity-response functions or increment threshold functions. Dopamine-depleted eyes showed a Purkinje shift, that is, a transition from rod-to-cone dominated vision with increasing levels of adaptation. We conclude (1) dopamine-depleted eyes are capable of photopic vision; and (2) the ERG b–wave is not diagnostic for luminosity coding at photopic backgrounds. We also predict that (1) dopamine is not required for the transition from scotopic to photopic vision in goldfish; (2) the ERG b–wave in goldfish is influenced by chromatic interactions; (3) horizontal cell spinules, though correlated with photopic mechanisms in the fish retina, are not necessary for the transition from scotopic to photopic vision; and (4) the OFF pathway, not the ON pathway, is involved in the action of dopamine on luminosity coding in the retina.

The mosaics of S-cones and the neurons to which they are connected are relatively well characterized, so the S-cone system is a good vehicle for exploring how the sampling of the retinal image controls visual performance. We used an interferometer to measure the grating acuity of the S-cone system in the fovea and at a range of eccentricities out to 20 deg. We also developed a simple model observer that, by assuming only that cone pathways are noisy and that signals are subject to eccentricity-dependent postreceptoral pooling, predicts the measured acuities from the sampling properties of the S-cone mosaic. The amount of pooling required to explain performance is consistent with that suggested by anatomical and physiological measurements.

The vertebrate retina contains only five major neuronal classes but these embrace a great diversity of discrete types, many of them hard to define by classical methods. Consideration of their spatial distributions (mosaics) has allowed new types, including large ganglion cells, to be resolved across a wide range of vertebrates. However, one category of large ganglion cells has seemed refractory to mosaic analysis: those that project to the accessory optic system (AOS) and serve vestibulocerebellar mechanisms of motion detection and image stabilization. Whenever AOS-projecting cells have been analyzed by nearest-neighbor methods, their distribution has appeared almost random. This is puzzling, because most aspects of visual processing require the visual scene to be sampled regularly. Here, spatial correlogram methods are applied to distributions of large ganglion cells, labeled retrogradely from the AOS in frogs, turtles, and rats, and to the AOS-projecting displaced ganglion cells of chickens. These methods reveal hidden spatial order among AOS-projecting populations, of a form that can be simulated either by superimposing a single regular mosaic on a random population or, more interestingly, by overlapping three or more regular, similar but spatially independent mosaics. The rabbit is known to have direction-selective ganglion cells (not, however, AOS projecting) that can be subdivided into functionally distinct, regular mosaics by their tracer-coupling patterns even though they are morphologically homogeneous. The present results imply that the direction-selective AOS-projecting ganglion cells of all vertebrates may, likewise, be subdivided into regular, independent mosaics.

In the retina of rat, cones make up ∼0.85% of the photoreceptor population: 93% of these cones contain a midwave-sensitive pigment, the rest expresses a short-wave-sensitive pigment (Szel & Rohlich, 1992). We used normal adult Long Evans rats to determine the spectral sensitivity of the cone-driven electroretinogram (ERG) b-wave and its absolute sensitivity at λmax of the cone pigments. ERGs were recorded at the cornea of anesthetized animals under dark- and light-adapted conditions. Rod responses were suppressed by steady rod-saturating orange backgrounds and/or by a flashed “white” background. Cone-driven b-waves were evoked by “white” or narrowband full-field stimuli of varying intensity. The action spectrum for the cone b-wave indicates the presence of an absorbance peak at 510 nm; a second, twofold lower, peak was found at 360 nm (after correction for transmittance by the lens). Chromatic adaptation experiments strongly suggest that retinal responses to midwave and UV stimuli are mediated by a single cone type. On a background producing ∼17,000 R* rod−1 s−1, which completely suppressed the saturated a-wave, the absolute sensitivity of the cone b-wave was 18 nV photon−1 μm2 at 510 nm and 4 nV photon−1 μm2 at 360 nm which is 20–30 times higher than for the mouse. It is suggested that the relatively large number of on-cone bipolar cells in the retina of rat is responsible for the remarkable sensitivity of the cone b-wave.

Glutamate receptor currents were examined in horizontal cells from cultured human retina using whole-cell recording procedures. Horizontal cells possess both AMPA and kainate receptors and both produce significant sustained currents. The kainate-induced current did not show significant desensitization and was not enhanced by concanavalin A. The sustained AMPA current was smaller than the kainate current, but the difference was almost entirely due to pronounced desensitization. The horizontal cell AMPA current was enhanced by cyclothiazide but not by PEPA, indicating the presence of the flip receptor variant. GYKI-52466 blocked the AMPA response (IC50 = 5 μM against 100 μM AMPA) but also blocked the kainate response (IC50 = 45 μM against 100 μM kainate). The diversity of glutamate receptors in human horizontal cells suggests that synaptic input to these neurons may be multiplexed through both kainate and AMPA channels.

In the present study, using double- or triple-label immunocytochemistry in conjunction with confocal microscopy, we aimed to examine the population and distribution of photoreceptors, GABAergic and glycinergic amacrine cells, and ganglion cells, which are basic but important parameters for studying the structure–function relationship of the salamander retina. We found that the outer nuclear layer (ONL) contained 82,019 ± 3203 photoreceptors, of which 52% were rods and 48% were cones. The density of photoreceptors peaked at ∼8000 cells/mm2 in the ventral and dropped to ∼4000 cells/mm2 in the dorsal retina. In addition, the rod/cone ratio was less than 1 in the central retina but larger than 1 in the periphery. Moreover, in the proximal region of the inner nuclear layer (INL3), the total number of cells was 50,576 ± 8400. GABAergic and glycinergic amacrine cells made up approximately 78% of all cells in this layer, including 43% GABAergic, 32% glycinergic, and 3% GABA/glycine colocalized amacrine cells. The density of these amacrine cells was ∼6500 cells/mm2 in the ventral and ∼3200 cells/mm2 in the dorsal area. The ratio of GABAergic to glycinergic amacrine cells was larger than 1. Furthermore, in the ganglion cell layer (GCL), among a total of 36,007 ± 2010 cells, ganglion cells accounted for 65.7 ± 1.5% of the total cells, whereas displaced GABAergic and glycinergic amacrine cells comprised about 4% of the cells in this layer. The ganglion cell density was ∼1800 cells/mm2 in the ventral and ∼600 cells/mm2 in the dorsal retina. Our data demonstrate that all three major cell types are not uniformly distributed across the salamander retina. Instead, they exhibit a higher density in the ventral than in the dorsal retina and their spatial arrangement is associated with the retinal topography. These findings provide a basic anatomical reference for the electrophysiological study of this species.

Transmission through the lateral geniculate nucleus is facilitated following activation of the cholinergic input from the brain stem, which is thought to reflect activity patterns seen during arousal. One of the underlying mechanisms is the suppression of inhibitory circuits local to the lateral geniculate nucleus. However, evidence exists that some visually driven inhibitory inputs to geniculate relay cells may be preserved or even enhanced under conditions of arousal, and during electrical activation of the parabrachial region of the brain stem. We have therefore reexamined the effect of brain-stem activation on the visual responses of one group of local inhibitory inputs to geniculate relay cells, those emanating from the adjacent perigeniculate nucleus. We recorded single perigeniculate cells in anesthetized, paralyzed cats. Axons innervating the lateral geniculate and perigeniculate nuclei from the parabrachial region of the brain stem were electrically activated, and the effect of this activation was assessed on both spontaneous and visually evoked responses. Visual stimulation consisted of sinusoidally modulated sine–wave gratings of varying spatial and temporal frequency. For the great majority of perigeniculate cells (32 of 40), brain-stem activation inhibited spontaneous activity, while one cell was excited, three showed a mixed effect and four were unaffected. Nevertheless, the responses of most cells (30 of 40) were facilitated when brain-stem activation was paired with certain spatio-temporal patterns of visual stimulation. Spatial tuning curves were constructed for 17 cells and temporal tuning curves for 14, before and during parabrachial activation. The responses of any one cell could be facilitated, unchanged, or suppressed, depending on the visual stimulus used. In some cases, this substantially modified the cell’s spatial and temporal tuning properties. We conclude that activation of the brain stem disinhibits geniculate relay cells in the absence of visual stimulation, but it has the potential to enhance either the magnitude or specificity of visually driven inhibition arising from the perigeniculate nucleus.

Recovering the velocity of objects moving in the visual field requires both the integration and segmentation of local neuronal responses elicited by moving stimuli in primary visual cortex. Herein, we investigate the effects of the contrast, density, spatial proximity, spatial frequency, and spatial configuration of component motions on these complementary processes. Measuring the ability of human observers to discriminate the global direction of motion displays composed of spatially distributed patches of drifting gratings whose motion is locally ambiguous, we provide psychophysical evidence that linking component motion across space is facilitated at low contrast and high patch density. Furthermore, direction discrimination depends on the spatial frequency of component gratings and is more accurate for spatial configurations that contain “virtual” L junctions as compared to configurations composed of “virtual” T junctions. We suggest that the conditions yielding global motion coherence can be accounted for by the existence of anisotropic cooperative/competitive, contrast-dependent, long-range interactions among oriented direction-selective units. In addition, we bring evidence that motion segmentation processes rely upon the processing of moving local spatial discontinuities. The results are discussed in the light of recent psychophysical and physiological evidence that long-range excitatory and inhibitory interactions within primary visual cortex modulate perceptual linking.