SENSITIVITY OF NEURONS IN CAT VISUAL-CORTEX TO CRUCIFORM FIGURES IN THE CENTRAL AND PERIPHERAL ZONES OF THE RECEPTIVE-FIELD

The role of the central and peripheral zones of the receptive field (R F) in sensitivity to cruciform figures was studied in 29 neurons of th e cat primary visual cortex. Separated or combined stimulation of thes e zones revealed summation, reciprocity response interaction, or the a bsence of their interaction by the sensitivity index (ratio between re sponse magnitudes to a cruciform figure and a bar). Stimulation of onl y central or only peripheral zone of the RF in nearly equal number of cases increased or decreased the sensitivity index in comparison with full cruciform figure. The neurons were found which did not change the ir sensitivity to cruciform figure under conditions of its partial mas king. Mechanisms and functional significance of the interaction betwee n the central and peripheral zones of RF for selection of line crossin g in the striate cortex are discussed.