Neuroscience 2003 Abstract
| Presentation Number: | 698.5 |
|---|---|
| Abstract Title: | Receptive field microstructure of mammalian retinal ganglion cells revealed by large scale multielectrode recording. |
| Authors: |
Kalmar, R. S.*1
; Sher, A.2
; Grivich, M. I.2
; Petrusca, D.2
; Litke, A. M.2
; Chichilnisky, E. J.1
1Salk Inst., La Jolla, CA 2CA, 10010 N. Torrey Pines Rd, 92037, |
| Primary Theme and Topics |
Sensory Systems - Vision -- Retina and photoreceptors |
| Secondary Theme and Topics | Techniques in Neuroscience<br />- Data analysis, physiological methods, statistics |
| Session: |
698. Retina: Receptive Fields, Function & Models Poster |
| Presentation Time: | Tuesday, November 11, 2003 1:00 PM-2:00 PM |
| Location: | Morial Convention Center - Hall F-I, Board # F3 |
| Keywords: | dendritic field, anatomy, cell types, spike sorting |
Recent findings suggest that the spatial receptive fields of mammalian retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) can exhibit peaks and valleys in sensitivity inconsistent with the classical dome-shaped model. Because these results were obtained from isolated retinas, it is difficult to exclude the possibility that the observed microstructure resulted from damage to photoreceptors during dissection. A strong test for this possibility is to record simultaneously from distinct cells with overlapping RFs.
We performed multielectrode recordings on isolated guinea pig retina using a new 512-electrode recording system and automated spike sorting approach (Litke et al, SFN 2003). This hardware and software allowed simultaneous recording and isolation of spikes from several hundred RGCs, including cells with overlapping receptive fields, while the retina was stimulated with spatiotemporal white noise (i.e. a flickering checkerboard). Isolation of recorded cells was verified by the presence of a refractory period in the spike train autocorrelation. The spike-triggered average (STA) stimulus was used to classify and estimate the spatial sensitivity profile of each cell.
Several distinct classes of RGCs were identified, similar to those of rabbit retina. Examples of microstructure -- significant valleys between peaks of the spatial sensitivity profile -- were observed in many cells with large receptive fields. The possibility that microstructure arose from photoreceptor damage was excluded by analysis of simultaneously-recorded cells with partially overlapping receptive fields that exhibited different spatial structure. These results support the hypothesis that receptive fields of some RGCs exhibit microstructure in vivo, and reveal the advantages of large scale simultaneous recording from many cells.
We performed multielectrode recordings on isolated guinea pig retina using a new 512-electrode recording system and automated spike sorting approach (Litke et al, SFN 2003). This hardware and software allowed simultaneous recording and isolation of spikes from several hundred RGCs, including cells with overlapping receptive fields, while the retina was stimulated with spatiotemporal white noise (i.e. a flickering checkerboard). Isolation of recorded cells was verified by the presence of a refractory period in the spike train autocorrelation. The spike-triggered average (STA) stimulus was used to classify and estimate the spatial sensitivity profile of each cell.
Several distinct classes of RGCs were identified, similar to those of rabbit retina. Examples of microstructure -- significant valleys between peaks of the spatial sensitivity profile -- were observed in many cells with large receptive fields. The possibility that microstructure arose from photoreceptor damage was excluded by analysis of simultaneously-recorded cells with partially overlapping receptive fields that exhibited different spatial structure. These results support the hypothesis that receptive fields of some RGCs exhibit microstructure in vivo, and reveal the advantages of large scale simultaneous recording from many cells.
Supported by NSF grant PHY-9988753 (AML); McKnight Foundation, Sloan Foundation & NEI grant 13150 (EJC)
Sample Citation:
[Authors]. [Abstract Title]. Program No. XXX.XX. 2003 Neuroscience Meeting Planner. New Orleans, LA: Society for Neuroscience, 2003. Online.
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