The time course of direction-selective adaptation in simple and complex cells in cat striate cortex

• DOI: 10.1152/jn.1993.70.5.2024
• Publication Date: 2017-12-24T23:04:37Z
• Authors: D. Giaschi; R. Douglas; S. Marlin; M. Cynader
• Keywords: Time constant; Exponential decay; Facilitation

1. Responses of single cortical neurons in area 17 anesthetized cats were recorded response to prolonged stimulation with a patch drifting square-wave grating. 2. During adaptation the preferred direction, all showed some reduction motion stimulated direction and most opposite, nonstimulated direction. 3. For complex cells, time course decrement both directions was exponential, an average constant 5 s. Response recovery also exponential but significantly slower, constants 8 13 s directions, respectively. 4. simple cells dynamics effect depended on testing. In change sensitivity similar that cells. during periods, initial rapid order few seconds followed by more gradual change. 5. nonpreferred there less overall sensitivity. short for directions. Other no either facilitation period. 6. There appears be general or nonspecific process, which may related contrast gain control, underlying striate neurons. An additional slow, direction-selective process is revealed when not are We suggest this latter type key feature perceptual aftereffect.