S cone contributions to the magnocellular visual pathway in macaque monkey

Chromatic properties of horizontal and ganglion cell responses follow a dual gradient in cone opsin expression

In guinea pig retina, immunostaining reveals a dual gradient of opsins: cones expressing opsin sensitive to medium wavelengths (M) predominate in the upper retina, whereas cones expressing opsin sensitive to shorter wavelengths (S) predominate in the lower retina. Whether these gradients correspond to functional gradients in postreceptoral neurons is essentially unknown. Using monochromatic flashes, we measured the relative weights with which M, S, and rod signals contribute to horizontal cell responses. For a background that produced 4.76 log10 photoisomerizations per rod per second (Rh*/rod/s), mean weights in superior retina were 52% (M), 2% (S), and 46% (rod). Mean weights in inferior retina were 9% (M), 50% (S), and 41% (rod). In superior retina, cone opsin weights agreed quantitatively with relative pigment density estimates from immunostaining. In inferior retina, cone opsin weights agreed qualitatively with relative pigment density estimates, but quantitative comparison was impossible because individual cones coexpress both opsins to varying and unquantifiable degrees. We further characterized the functional gradients in horizontal and brisk-transient ganglion cells using flickering stimuli produced by various mixtures of blue and green primary lights. Cone weights for both cell types resembled those obtained for horizontal cells using monochromatic flashes. Because the brisk-transient ganglion cell is thought to mediate behavioral detection of luminance contrast, our results are consistent with the hypothesis that the dual gradient of cone opsins assists achromatic contrast detection against different spectral backgrounds. In our preparation, rod responses did not completely saturate, even at background light levels typical of outdoor sunlight (5.14 log10 Rh*/rod/s).

Interactions between luminance and colour channels in visual search and their relationship to parallel neural channels in vision

We have compared visual search under conditions that tend to isolate the magnocellular, parvocellular and koniocellular channels of the human visual system. We used isoluminant red-green stimuli that do not modulate short-wavelength sensitive (SWS) cones to isolate the parvocellular pathway, isoluminant SWS-cone isolating stimuli to stimulate only the koniocellular system and addition of small luminance contrasts to selectively activate the magnocellular pathway. We found that in the case of conjunction search, where attentional resources were required, the red-green (parvocellular) system can use accompanying small luminance (magnocellular) signals to improve visual search. On the other hand, when using SWS-cone isolating stimuli to selectively stimulate the blue-yellow (koniocellular) system, addition of similar luminance signals did not increase the efficiency of the serial visual search. The results indicate that S-cone signals may be processed in a separate pathway that does not get converging inputs from the magnocellular pathway. This is unlike the case with the red-green opponent system, which functions more synergistically with the magnocellular system.

Inhibition versus attentional momentum in cortical and collicular mechanisms of IOR

Inhibition of return (IOR)-the automatic bias against returning attention or gaze to recently visited locations-is thought to have both collicular and cortical components and has been associated with the oculomotor system. Recently, distinct IOR mechanisms have been revealed that may have collicular and cortical origins: While standard luminance stimuli cause IOR in both manual and saccadic eye movement responses, "S cone" stimuli, which are invisible to the direct collicular pathway, caused manual IOR but not saccadic IOR. However, it has not been shown that the separate mechanisms are both inhibition of return, rather than facilitation due to attentional momentum or a visual motion transient. Here, we examined this question using four target and cue locations instead of two. Inhibition at the cued location predicts that responses for all noncued locations should be similar, whereas facilitation at the location opposite the cue predicts that the perpendicular locations would be more similar to the cued location than to the opposite location. Our results conform to the former prediction for both saccadic IOR and S cone generated IOR, demonstrating that both mechanisms of IOR are indeed inhibitory.

Retinotopic distribution of chromatic responses in human primary visual cortex

In non-human primates at least three anatomically and functionally distinct channels convey signals from the retina to the primary visual cortex (V1). Two of these channels, the parvocellular and the koniocellular, are sensitive to chromatic contrasts and form the basis of color vision. In humans, common phylogenetic history with other primates and psychophysical experiments suggest identical retinocortical mechanisms but separate evaluation of the distinct anatomical channels has been difficult because signals are already combined in V1. We studied the spatial distribution of activation to chromatic stimuli along the two opponent chromatic axes in human V1 with multifocal functional magnetic resonance imaging. The signal strength was quantified from three experiments with stimuli up to 20 degrees eccentricity. The hypothesis was that, although the parvo- and koniocellular signals are mixed in V1, distinct distributions of signal strength would be evident. We found that whereas different conditions activated the same areas of cortex, indicating that they have identical magnification factors, the responses to red/green stimulation were stronger close to the fovea whereas the blue/yellow responses were much less diminished with increasing eccentricity. Both chromatic axes showed saturating contrast response functions. Our measure directly from human V1 is in line with earlier psychophysical studies suggesting relatively stronger parvocellular channel representation close to the fovea, and more uniform distribution of the koniocellular and achromatic channels. In addition, our study presents a way to rapidly quantify retinotopic signal transmission in distinct retinocortical pathways of individual subjects.

Functional anatomy and interaction of fast and slow visual pathways in macaque monkeys

We measured the timing, areal distribution, and laminar profile of fast, wavelength-insensitive and slower, wavelength-sensitive responses in V1 and extrastriate areas, using laminar current-source density analysis in awake macaque monkeys. There were 3 main findings. 1) We confirmed previously reported significant ventral-dorsal stream latency lags at the level of V4 (V4 mean = 38.7 ms vs. middle temporal mean = 26.9 ms) and inferotemporal cortex (IT mean = 43.4 ms vs. dorsal bank of the superior temporal sulcus mean = 33.9 ms). 2) We found that wavelength-sensitive inputs in areas V1, V4, and IT lagged the wavelength-insensitive responses by significant margins; this lag increased over successive levels of the system. 3) We found that laminar activation profiles in V4 and IT were inconsistent with "feedforward" input through the ascending ventral cortical pathway; the likely alternative input routes include both lateral inputs from the dorsal stream and direct inputs from nonspecific thalamic neurons. These findings support a "Framing" Model of ventral stream visual processing in which rapidly conducted inputs, mediated by one or more accessory pathways, modulate the processing of more slowly conducted feedforward inputs.

Visual spatial summation in macaque geniculocortical afferents

The spatial summation properties of visual signals were analyzed for geniculocortical afferents in the primary visual cortex (V1) of anesthetized paralyzed macaque monkeys. Afferent input responses were recorded extracellularly during cortical inactivation through superfusion of the cortex with muscimol, allowing investigation of lateral geniculate nucleus of the thalamus (LGN) cell properties in the absence of cortical feedback. Responses from afferent inputs were classified as magno-, parvo-, or koniocellular based on anatomical organization within the cortex, established through histological reconstructions, and visual response wavelength sensitivity. More than 80% of afferents showed strong surround suppression [suppression index (SI) >0.5] and 14% showed negligible surround suppression (SI < 0.2). Afferent responses with weak and strong surround suppression were found throughout cortical input layers 4C and 4A. High-contrast estimates of the spatial extent of the classical surround were similar to the nonclassical surround. The classical and nonclassical surrounds were, on average, 1.5-fold larger than the excitatory center. Unlike neurons within V1, the spatial extent of excitatory summation for geniculocortical afferents was contrast invariant. Nonclassical surround suppression showed slight contrast dependency with estimates larger (20%) at lower contrasts and stronger at higher contrasts (13%). Surround suppression is inherent in cortical input responses and likely derives from lateral inhibition in either the LGN or retina. Although surround suppression within afferent responses increases slightly with contrast, the spatial spread of excitation remains fixed with contrast. This argues for distinct mechanisms of action for contrast-dependent modulation in cortical and subcortical responses.

Selective and quickly reversible inactivation of mammalian neurons in vivo using the Drosophila allatostatin receptor

Genetic strategies for perturbing activity of selected neurons hold great promise for understanding circuitry and behavior. Several such strategies exist, but there has been no direct demonstration of reversible inactivation of mammalian neurons in vivo. We previously reported quickly reversible inactivation of neurons in vitro using expression of the Drosophila allatostatin receptor (AlstR). Here, adeno-associated viral vectors are used to express AlstR in vivo in cortical and thalamic neurons of rats, ferrets, and monkeys. Application of the receptor's ligand, allatostatin (AL), leads to a dramatic reduction in neural activity, including responses of visual neurons to optimized visual stimuli. Additionally, AL eliminates activity in spinal cords of transgenic mice conditionally expressing AlstR. This reduction occurs selectively in AlstR-expressing neurons. Inactivation can be reversed within minutes upon washout of the ligand and is repeatable, demonstrating that the AlstR/AL system is effective for selective, quick, and reversible silencing of mammalian neurons in vivo.

Postreceptoral chromatic-adaptation mechanisms in the red-green and blue-yellow systems using simple reaction times

Simple visual-reaction times (VRT) were measured for a variety of stimuli selected along red-green (L-M axis) and blue-yellow [S-(L + M) axis] directions in the isoluminant plane under different adaptation stimuli. Data were plotted in terms of the RMS cone contrast in contrast-threshold units. For each opponent system, a modified Piéron function was fitted in each experimental configuration and on all adaptation stimuli. A single function did not account for all the data, confirming the existence of separate postreceptoral adaptation mechanisms in each opponent system under suprathreshold conditions. The analysis of the VRT-hazard functions suggested that both color-opponent mechanisms present a well-defined, transient-sustained structure at marked suprathreshold conditions. The influence of signal polarity and chromatic adaptation on each color axis proves the existence of asymmetries in the integrated hazard functions, suggesting separate detection mechanisms for each pole (red, green, blue, and yellow detectors).

Do magnocellular and parvocellular ganglion cells avoid short-wavelength cone input?

We recently developed a new technique to measure cone inputs to visual neurons and used this technique to seek short-wavelength-sensitive (S) cone inputs to parasol, magnocellular (MC) and midget, parvocellular (PC) ganglion cells. Here, we compare our physiological measurements of S-cone weights to those predicted by a random wiring model that assumes cells' receptive fields receive input from mixed cone types. The random wiring model predicts the average weights of S-cone input to be similar to the total percentage of S-cones but with considerable scatter, and the S-cone input polarity to be consistent with that of PC cells' surround and of MC cells' center. This is not consistent with our physiological measurements. We suggest that the ganglion cells' receptive fields may have a mechanism to avoid S-cone inputs, as is the case in the H1 horizontal cells. Previous reports of S-cone inputs, in particular substantial input to MC cells, are likely to reflect variation in prereceptoral filtering and/or the failure to correct for variation in macular pigment.

Bipolar cell pathways for color and luminance vision in a dichromatic mammalian retina

The mammalian retina is fundamentally dichromatic, with trichromacy only recently emerging in some primates. In dichromats, an array of short wavelength-sensitive (S, blue) and middle wavelength-sensitive (M, green) cones is sampled by approximately ten bipolar cell types, and the sampling pattern determines how retinal ganglion cells and ultimately higher visual centers encode color and luminance. By recording from cone-bipolar cell pairs in the retina of the ground squirrel, we show that the bipolar cell types sample cone signals in three ways: one type receives input exclusively from S-cones, two types receive mixed S/M-cone input and the remaining types receive an almost pure M-cone signal. Bipolar cells that carry S- or M-cone signals can have a role in color discrimination and may contact color-opponent ganglion cells. Bipolar cells that sum signals from S- and M-cones may signal to ganglion cells that encode luminance.

Chromatic gain controls in visual cortical neurons

Although the response of a neuron in the visual cortex generally grows nonlinearly with contrast, the spatial tuning of the cell remains stable. This is thought to reflect the activity of a contrast gain control ("normalization") that has very broad tuning on the relevant stimulus dimension. Contrast invariant tuning on a particular dimension is probably necessary for reliable representation of stimuli on that dimension. In the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN), V1, and V2 of anesthetized macaque, we measured chromatic tuning of neurons at several contrasts to characterize the gain controls and identify cells that might be important for representing color. We estimated separately the chromatic signature of the linear receptive field and that of the gain control. In the LGN, we found normalization in magnocellular cells and cells receiving excitatory S-cone input but not in parvocellular cells or those receiving inhibitory S-cone input. We found normalization in all types of cortical neurons. Among cells that preferred achromatic modulation, or modulation along intermediate directions in color space (making them responsive to both achromatic and chromatic stimuli), normalization was driven by mechanisms tuned to a restricted range of directions in color space, close to achromatic. As a result, chromatic tuning varied with contrast. Among the relatively few cells that strongly preferred chromatic modulation, normalization was driven by mechanisms sensitive to modulation along all directions in color space, especially isoluminant. As a result, chromatic tuning changed little with contrast. To the extent that contrast invariant tuning is important in representing chromaticity, relatively few cortical neurons are involved.

Which visual pathways cause fixation-related inhibition?

Visual stimuli can both inhibit and activate motor mechanisms. In one well-known example, the latency of saccadic eye movements is prolonged in the presence of a fixation stimulus, relative to the case in which the fixation stimulus disappears before the target appears. This automatic sensory-motor effect, known as the gap effect or fixation-offset effect, has been associated with inhibitory connections within the superior colliculus (SC). Visual information is provided to the SC and other oculomotor areas, such as the frontal eye fields (FEF), mainly by the magnocellular geniculostriate pathway, and also by the retinotectal pathway. We tested whether signals in these pathways are necessary to create fixation-related inhibition, by using stimuli invisible to them. We found that such stimuli, visible only to short-wave-sensitive cones (S cones), do produce fixation-related inhibition (including when warning effects were equated). We also demonstrate that this fixation-related inhibition cannot be explained by residual activation of luminance pathways and must be caused by a route separate from that of luminance fixation signals. Thus there are at least two routes that cause fixation-related inhibition, and direct sensory input to the SC or FEF by the magnocellular or retinotectal pathways is not required. We discuss the implications that there may be both cortical and collicular mechanisms.

Specificity of cone inputs to macaque retinal ganglion cells

The specificity of cone inputs to ganglion cells has implications for the development of retinal connections and the nature of information transmitted to higher areas of the brain. We introduce a rapid and precise method for measuring signs and magnitudes of cone inputs to visual neurons. Colors of stimuli are modulated around circumferences of three color planes in clockwise and counterclockwise directions. For each neuron, the projection of the preferred vector in each plane was estimated by averaging the response phases to clockwise and counterclockwise modulation. The signs and weights of cone inputs were derived directly from the preferred vectors. The efficiency of the method enables us to measure cone inputs at different temporal frequencies and short-wavelength-sensitive (S) cone adaptation levels. The results show that S-cone inputs to the parvocellular and magnocellular ganglion cells are negligible, which implies underlying connectional specificity in the retinal circuitry.

Specificity of cone connections in the retina and color vision. Focus on "specificity of cone inputs to macaque retinal ganglion cells"

The specificity of cone inputs to ganglion cells has implications for the development of retinal connections and the nature of information transmitted to higher areas of the brain. We introduce a rapid and precise method for measuring signs and magnitudes of cone inputs to visual neurons. Colors of stimuli are modulated around circumferences of three color planes in clockwise and counterclockwise directions. For each neuron, the projection of the preferred vector in each plane was estimated by averaging the response phases to clockwise and counterclockwise modulation. The signs and weights of cone inputs were derived directly from the preferred vectors. The efficiency of the method enables us to measure cone inputs at different temporal frequencies and short-wavelength-sensitive (S) cone adaptation levels. The results show that S-cone inputs to the parvocellular and magnocellular ganglion cells are negligible, which implies underlying connectional specificity in the retinal circuitry.

Coding of color and form in the geniculostriate visual pathway (invited review)

We review how neurons in the principal pathway connecting the retina to the visual cortex represent information about the chromatic and spatial characteristics of the retinal image. Our examination focuses particularly on individual neurons: what are their visual properties, how might these properties arise, what do these properties tell us about visual signal transformations, and how might these properties be expressed in perception? Our discussion is inclined toward studies on old-world monkeys and where possible emphasizes quantitative work that has led to or illuminates models of visual signal processing.

Chromatic sensitivity of neurones in area MT of the anaesthetised macaque monkey compared to human motion perception

We recorded activity from neurones in cortical motion-processing areas, middle temporal area (MT) and middle posterior superior temporal sulcus (MST), of anaesthetised and paralysed macaque monkeys in response to moving sinewave gratings modulated in luminance and chrominance. The activity of MT and MST neurones was highly dependent on luminance contrast. In three of four animals isoluminant chromatic modulations failed to activate MT/MST neurones significantly. At low luminance contrast a systematic dependence on chromaticity was revealed, attributable mostly to residual activity of the magnocellular pathway. Additionally, we found indications for a weak S-cone input, but rod intrusion could also have made a contribution. In contrast to the activity of MT and MST neurones, speed judgments and onset amplitude of evoked optokinetic eye movements in human subjects confronted with equivalent visual stimuli were largely independent of luminance modulation. Motion of every grating (including isoluminant) was readily visible for all but one observer. Similarity with the activity of MT/MST cells was found only for motion-nulling equivalent luminance contrast judgments at isoluminance. Our results suggest that areas MT and MST may not be involved in the processing of chromatic motion, but effects of central anaesthesia and/or the existence of intra- and inter-species differences must also be considered.

Laminar organization of response properties in primary visual cortex of the gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)

The gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) is a diurnal highly visual rodent with a cone-rich retina. To determine which features of visual cortex are common to highly visual mammals and which are restricted to non-rodent species, we studied the laminar organization of response properties in primary visual area V1 of isoflurane-anesthetized squirrels using extra-cellular single-unit recording and sinusoidal grating stimuli. Of the responsive cells, 75% were tuned for orientation. Only 10% were directionally selective, almost all in layer 6, a layer receiving direct input from the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN). Cone opponency was widespread but almost absent from layer 6. Median optimal spatial frequency tuning was 0.21 cycles/ degrees . Median optimal temporal frequency a high 5.3 Hz. Layer 4 had the highest percentage of simple cells and shortest latency (26 ms). Layers 2/3 had the lowest spontaneous activity and highest temporal frequency tuning. Layer 5 had the broadest spatial frequency tuning and most spontaneous activity. At the layer 4/5 border were sustained cells with high cone opponency. Simple cells, determined by modulation to drifting sinusoidal gratings, responded with shorter latencies, were more selective for orientation and direction, and were tuned to lower spatial frequencies. A comparison with other mammals shows that although the laminar organization of orientation selectivity is variable, the cortical input layers contain more linear cells in most mammals. Nocturnal mammals appear to have more orientation-selective neurons in V1 than diurnal mammals of similar size.

Morphological identification of ganglion cells expressing the alpha subunit of type II calmodulin-dependent protein kinase in the macaque retina

Expression of the alpha subunit of type II calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (alphaCamKII) distinguishes the koniocellular neurons of the primate lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) from the primary parvo- and magnocellular neurons, but whether the same neurochemical signature distinguishes the retinal ganglion cells providing them input is not known. We find that, in the retina, alphaCamKII expression also differentiates two primary groups of ganglion cell, both characterized by broad, sparsely branching dendritic trees and cell bodies intermediate in size between the parvo- and magnocellular-projecting ganglion cells. Cells in the first group have three or four primary dendrites, a thick axon, and a rounded cell body and likely are made up of multiple types. In contrast, ganglion cells in the second group demonstrate a highly regular morphology, with strictly two primary dendrites and a thinner axon emanating from a smaller, elliptical cell body. This cell resembles the "large sparse" ganglion cell identified by others in retrograde labeling from the LGN and represents about 2% of all ganglion cells. In the optic nerve, alphaCamKII+ axons are also intermediate in size and form a bimodal distribution, correlating with the axonal sizes of the two groups of ganglion cell. For the LGN, we describe a group of alphaCamKII+ axon terminals with morphology consistent with terminals from retinal ganglion cells. These terminals form long, filamentous contacts with alphaCamKII+ relay cells and increase in frequency from the dorsal to the ventral koniocellular regions. Our results indicate that ganglion cells expressing alphaCamKII represent multiple projections to the brain, at least one of which provides input to one or more koniocellular regions of the LGN.

Is the S-opponent chromatic sub-system sluggish?

The S-opponent pathway has a reputation for being sluggish relative to the L/M-opponent pathway. Cottaris and De Valois [Nature 395 (1998) 896] claim that S-opponent signals are available in Macaque V1 only after 96-135 ms whereas L/M-opponent signals are available after 68-95 ms. Our experiments tested whether this large latency difference could be observed psychophysically. We measured reaction times to S/(L + M) and L/(L + M) increments. Both the equiluminant plane and the tritan line were empirically determined and we used spatio-temporal luminance noise to mask luminance cues. An adaptive staircase progressed according to observers' performance on a 'go, no-go' task and provided concomitant estimates of threshold and of reaction time. When brief stimuli are confined to chromatic channels and presented at equivalent (threshold) levels and when latency is estimated from visually triggered reaction times, we find that the difference between the L/M-opponent and S-opponent sub-systems is, at most, 20-30 ms.

Colour through the thalamus

Visual perception in humans and other primates depends on the retino-thalamo-cortical pathway. This pathway begins with retinal ganglion cells, which have axonal terminations in the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) of the thalamus. Each ganglion cell axon provides input to one or more LGN relay neurones and, in turn, nearly all the LGN relay neurones project to the primary visual cortex. Thus, this pathway forms the dominant functional input to cortical mechanisms for colour vision, as well as for other aspects of conscious visual perception. In this review, recent progress in understanding the transmission of signals for colour vision through the LGN is summarised, with emphasis on studies which provide links between function and structure.

Distinct Cortical and Collicular Mechanisms of Inhibition of Return Revealed with S Cone Stimuli

Visual orienting of attention and gaze are widely considered to be mediated by shared neural pathways, with automatic phenomena such as inhibition of return (IOR)--the bias against returning to recently visited locations--being generated via the direct pathway from retina to superior colliculus (SC). Here, we show that IOR occurs without direct access to the SC, by using a technique that employs stimuli visible only to short-wave-sensitive (S) cones. We found that these stimuli, to which the SC is blind , were quite capable of eliciting IOR, measured by traditional manual responses. Critically, however, we found that S cone stimuli did not cause IOR when saccadic eye movement responses were required. This demonstrates that saccadic IOR is not the same as traditional IOR, providing support for two separate cortical and collicular mechanisms of IOR. These findings represent a clear dissociation between visual orienting of attention and gaze.

A theory of the Benham Top based on center-surround interactions in the parvocellular pathway

A model color-opponent neuron was used to investigate the subjective colors evoked by the Benham Top (BT). Color-opponent inputs from cone-selective parvocellular (P) pathway neurons with center-surround receptive fields were subtracted with a short relative delay, yielding a small transient input in response to a white spot. This transient input was amplified by BT-like stimuli, modeled as a thin dark bar followed by full-field illumination. The narrow bar produced maximal activation of the P-pathway surrounds but only partial activation of the P-pathway centers. Due to saturation, subsequent removal of the bar had little effect on the P-pathway surrounds, whereas the transient input from the P-pathway centers was amplified via disinhibition. Responses to BT-like stimuli became weaker as surround sensitivity recovered, producing an effect analogous to the progression of perceived BT colors. Our results suggest that the BT-illusion arises because cone-selective neurons convey information about both color and luminance contrast, allowing the two signals become confounded.

S-cone connections of the diffuse bipolar cell type DB6 in macaque monkey retina

Previous studies of primate retinae have shown that diffuse bipolar (DB) cells contact all the cones in their dendritic field, suggesting there is no spectral selectivity in the functional input to DB cells. However, since short-wavelength sensitive (S) cones make up less than 10% of the total cone population, specialized connectivity with S-cones is difficult to detect. In the present study, the S-cone connectivity of a subtype of DB cells, the DB6 cell, was studied in macaque monkey retina. Pieces of macaque retina were processed with antibodies to CD15 to stain DB6 cells and antibodies to the S-cone opsin to identify S-cones. Immunoreactivity was visualized using immunoperoxidase or immunofluorescence. Some preparations were additionally processed with peanut agglutinin coupled to fluorescein to reveal medium- and long-wavelength sensitive (M/L) cones. The preparations were analyzed using conventional and deconvolution light microscopy. The majority of DB6 cells had one or two S-cones in their dendritic field and the majority of S-cones were located in the dendritic field of DB6 cells. On average, 80% of the S-cones and 81% of the M/L cones contacted DB6 cells. The average number of dendritic terminals at cone pedicles did not differ between the cone types. However, the total number of DB6 dendritic terminals receiving input from M/L-cone pedicles was about eight times higher than the total number of dendritic terminals at S-cone pedicles. In conclusion, DB6 cells make indiscriminate contact with all cone types, but receive their major input from M/L-cones and thus carry a "Yellow-ON" spectral signal.

Separate blue and green cone networks in the mammalian retina

The distinct absorbance spectra of the cone photopigments form the basis of color vision, but ultrastructural and physiological evidence shows that mammalian cones are electrically coupled. Coupling between cones of the same spectral type should average voltage noise in adjacent photoreceptors and improve the ability to resolve low-contrast spatial patterns. However, indiscriminate coupling between spectral types could compromise color vision by smearing chromatic information across channels. Here we show, by measuring the junctional conductance between green-green and blue-green cone pairs in slices from the dichromatic ground-squirrel retina, that green-green cone pairs are routinely coupled with an average conductance of 220 pS, whereas coupling is undetectable in blue-green cone pairs. Together with a lack of tracer coupling and the selective localization of connexin proteins, our results show that signals in blue and green cones are processed separately in the photoreceptor layer.

Cone Inputs in Macaque Primary Visual Cortex

To understand the role of primary visual cortex (V1) in color vision, we measured directly the input from the 3 cone types in macaque V1 neurons. Cells were classified as luminance-preferring, color-luminance, or color-preferring from the ratio of the peak amplitudes of spatial frequency responses to red/green equiluminant and to black/white (luminance) grating patterns, respectively. In this study we used L-, M-, and S-cone–isolating gratings to measure spatial frequency response functions for each cone type separately. From peak responses to cone-isolating stimuli we estimated relative cone weights and whether cone inputs were the same or opposite sign. For most V1 cells the relative S-cone weight was <0.1. All color-preferring cells were cone opponent and their L/M cone weight ratio was clustered around a value of –1, which is roughly equal and opposite L and M cone signals. Almost all cells (88%) classified as luminance cells were cone nonopponent, with a broad distribution of cone weights. Most cells (73%) classified as color-luminance cells were cone opponent. This result supports our conclusion that V1 color-luminance cells are double-opponent. Such neurons are more sensitive to color boundaries than to areas of color and thereby could play an important role in color perception. The color-luminance population had a broad distribution of L/M cone weight ratios, implying a broad distribution of preferred colors for the double-opponent cells.

Of lasers, mutants, and see-through brains: functional neuroanatomy in zebrafish

Behavioral functions are carried out by localized circuits in the brain. Although this modular principle is clearly established, the boundaries of modules, and sometimes even their existence, are still debated. Zebrafish might offer distinct advantages in localizing behaviors to discrete brain regions because of the ability to visualize, record from, and lesion precisely identified populations of neurons in the brain. In addition, genetic screens in zebrafish enable the isolation of mutations that disrupt neural pathways and/or behaviors, as an alternative lesioning technique with complementary strengths to laser ablations. For example, the Mauthner cell, a large identified neuron in the hindbrain, has been postulated to be both necessary and sufficient for the execution of escapes. We discuss in this review how experiments, using laser ablations, calcium imaging, and mutants have eroded this notion. Even in a simple behavior, such as escape, many parallel pathways appear to be involved with no single one being absolutely necessary. Lesion studies and the analysis of behavioral mutants are now also beginning to elucidate the functional architecture of the zebrafish visual system. Although still in an embryonic stage, the neuroanatomy of behaviors in zebrafish has a bright future.

Vernier Threshold in Patients With Schizophrenia and in Their Unaffected Siblings

The aim of this study was to investigate magnocellular (M) and parvocellular (P) visual functions in nonmedicated patients with schizophrenia and in their unaffected siblings. Possible abnormalities in cortical integration of retinal receptive fields also were addressed. Twenty-two nonmedicated patients with schizophrenia, their unaffected siblings, and 20 age- and IQ-matched healthy control subjects received 4 vernier acuity tasks (blue-on-yellow, frequency-doubling, achromatic low and high contrast conditions) in which they were asked to detect the spatial alignment of dots and gratings. Results revealed that the patients with schizophrenia and their unaffected siblings showed selective dysfunctions in the frequency-doubling and achromatic low contrast conditions, which were devoted to investigate M pathways. In the isoluminant blue-on-yellow and high contrast achromatic conditions, there were no significant differences between the experimental groups. These results suggest that the deficit of M pathway is an endophenotype of schizophrenia.

The primacy of chromatic edge processing in normal and cerebrally achromatopsic subjects

The local chromatic contrast between surfaces in a visual scene plays an important role in theories of color perception. Our studies of cerebral achromatopsia suggest that this contrast signal is computed independently of the more complex processes such as edge integration and anchoring. We report a study in which we attempted to determine whether local-contrast signals also drove behavior in normal subjects. We sought to reduce the role of edge integration and anchoring by using stimuli whose background varied very gradually in color from top to bottom. The local chromatic contrast of patches relative to such backgrounds depends upon the position at which they are presented. It is therefore possible for patches with identical spectral composition to have opposite contrasts. We constructed stimuli in which two of three vertically arranged discs had the same contrast while the third had opposite contrast. The stimuli were also constructed so that the contrast-odd disc and one of the other two had identical spectral composition while the third disc had different composition. We used these stimuli in an attentional task where, after a brief delay, a letter discrimination target was presented in the location of one of the discs. Attention should automatically be attracted to the odd disc in such a display. Normal observers were faster at making the letter discrimination when the target appeared at the contrast-odd as opposed to spectrally odd location. We conclude that local chromatic contrast, but not raw spectral composition, is accessible to normal observers at an appropriate stage in visual processing to drive attention.

Parallel colour-opponent pathways to primary visual cortex

The trichromatic primate retina parses the colour content of a visual scene into 'red/green' and 'blue/yellow' representations. Cortical circuits must combine the information encoded in these colour-opponent signals to reconstruct the full range of perceived colours. Red/green and blue/yellow inputs are relayed by the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) of thalamus to primary visual cortex (V1), so understanding how cortical circuits transform these signals requires understanding how LGN inputs to V1 are organized. Here we report direct recordings from LGN afferent axons in muscimol-inactivated V1. We found that blue/yellow afferents terminated exclusively in superficial cortical layers 3B and 4A, whereas red/green afferents were encountered only in deeper cortex, in lower layer 4C. We also describe a distinct cortical target for 'blue-OFF' cells, whose afferents terminated in layer 4A and seemed patchy in organization. The more common 'blue-ON' afferents were found in 4A as well as lower layer 2/3. Chromatic information is thus conveyed to V1 by parallel, anatomically segregated colour-opponent systems, to be combined at a later stage of the colour circuit.

Artifacts in spatiochromatic stimuli due to variations in preretinal absorption and axial chromatic aberration: implications for color physiology

The spatiochromatic receptive-field structure of neurons in the macaque visual system has been studied almost exclusively with stimuli based on the human foveal cone fundamentals of Smith and Pokorny [Vision Res. 15, 161 (1975)] and generated on cathode ray tube displays. In the current study the artifacts evoked by cone-isolating, spatially structured stimuli due to variations in the eye's preretinal absorption characteristics and axial chromatic aberration are quantified. In addition, the luminance artifacts evoked by nominally isoluminant sinusoidal grating stimuli due to the same factors are quantified. The results indicate that the spatiochromatic stimuli commonly employed to map receptive fields of neurons at eccentricities > 10 deg are especially prone to artifacts and that these artifacts are maximal for the high-contrast S-cone-isolating stimuli that are often used. On the basis of these simulations, a method is introduced that improves spatiochromatic receptive-field estimates by compensating for response contributions from the incompletely silenced cone mosaics during cone-isolating stimulation.

The S-cone electroretinogram: a comparison of techniques, normative data and age-related variation

The blue sensitive mechanism in human colour vision is highly susceptible to damage in ocular disease. There is a need for objective methods to assess this and several methods of recording the blue cone (S-cone) electroretinogram (ERG) have been described. We therefore compared a silent substitution technique (SST) and a selective adaptation technique (SAT) using a novel combination of optical filters, on 24 normal subjects. The age-related variation in the S-cone ERG was also investigated in a further 73 normal subjects. S-cone ERGs elicited by SAT were of higher amplitude, (p < 0.001) with smaller coefficients of variation than those elicited with SST. The SST method has already been shown to be highly sensitive in primary open angle glaucoma and, unlike SAT, has no significant age related variation. However, the results of this study suggest that the new, SAT method may prove to be more convenient and effective in clinical practice, provided that age norms are applied.