Neuroscience 2005 Abstract
| Presentation Number: | 620.19 |
|---|---|
| Abstract Title: | The mammalian retina converts all scenes into 300 ms volleys. |
| Authors: |
Galambos, R.*1
; Lorincz, M.2
; Szilagy, N.2
; Juhasz, G.2
1Dept. Neuroscience, UCSD, La Jolla, CA 2Hungary, 8826 La Jolla Scenic Dr, 92037, |
| Primary Theme and Topics |
Sensory and Motor Systems - Vision -- Processing of objects and faces |
| Secondary Theme and Topics | Cognition and Behavior<br />- Human Cognition, Behavior, and Anatomy<br />-- Perception and imagery |
| Session: |
620. Objects and Faces III Poster |
| Presentation Time: | Tuesday, November 15, 2005 10:00 AM-11:00 AM |
| Location: | Washington Convention Center - Hall A-C, Board # S4 |
| Keywords: | RETINAL GANGLION CELL, OPTIC NERVE VOLLEY, LGN TRANSFER, VISUAL PERCEPTION |
We will summarize and discuss our visual experiments reported in five publications and at the last six SfN meetings. These experiments return to first principles, viewing the retina as a transducer that converts light energy into time-locked optic nerve impulses that can be followed from retina to cortex. Using an implanted rat model with LEDs glued to the skull, we delivered flashes (controlled for luminance and duration) to the animal when awake or asleep and while light- or dark-adapted. The stimulus-locked electrical responses were recorded through small stainless steel electrodes implanted at cornea, chiasm, and cortex. Our 2003 SfN report used human behavioral studies to test, validate, and extend conclusions based on rat data.
The principal findings:
1. Visual stimuli invariably generate rat and human optic nerve volleys that last about 300 ms, which indicates the mammlian retina normally converts all the information acquired during a flash or fixation, however rich or poor that information may be, into a ca.300 ms optic nerve volley. We give these volleys a name: Retinal Functional Unit (RFU).
2. When inverted, the ca. 300ms evoked response waveshape recorded at the rat visual cortex electrode closely resembles the RFU waveshape recorded at the chiasm electrode.
Our new data support the following conclusions:
3. LGN normally transfers its input from the retina to the cortex monosynaptically; and
4. Cortex receives its information about each scene in exactly the temporal order the 300 ms action potential train carried it away from the retina; and
5. Every visual perception is the joint product of a complete retinal analysis of the scene (the RFU) and the cortical elaboration of it.
Unlike models based on microelectrode measurements, our retinocentric RFU concept supplies a single, simple, and adequate explanation for human visual behavioral phenomena ranging from priming, backward masking, and flash-lag to reading the newspaper and driving an automobile.
The principal findings:
1. Visual stimuli invariably generate rat and human optic nerve volleys that last about 300 ms, which indicates the mammlian retina normally converts all the information acquired during a flash or fixation, however rich or poor that information may be, into a ca.300 ms optic nerve volley. We give these volleys a name: Retinal Functional Unit (RFU).
2. When inverted, the ca. 300ms evoked response waveshape recorded at the rat visual cortex electrode closely resembles the RFU waveshape recorded at the chiasm electrode.
Our new data support the following conclusions:
3. LGN normally transfers its input from the retina to the cortex monosynaptically; and
4. Cortex receives its information about each scene in exactly the temporal order the 300 ms action potential train carried it away from the retina; and
5. Every visual perception is the joint product of a complete retinal analysis of the scene (the RFU) and the cortical elaboration of it.
Unlike models based on microelectrode measurements, our retinocentric RFU concept supplies a single, simple, and adequate explanation for human visual behavioral phenomena ranging from priming, backward masking, and flash-lag to reading the newspaper and driving an automobile.
Supported by Hungarian OTKA 628;Medichem II; DNTK RET
Sample Citation:
[Authors]. [Abstract Title]. Program No. XXX.XX. 2005 Neuroscience Meeting Planner. Washington, DC: Society for Neuroscience, 2005. Online.
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