Sensitivity of striate neurons to Y-like figures: experiment and simulation

Under stimulation of the receptive fields (RF) of neurons in the cat area 1 7 by flashing Y-like figures of different shape and orientation, the sensit ivity to these figures was revealed in 72% of the studied cells, while 62% of units were sensitive to cross-like figures as well. Tuning to Y-like fig ures was typically selective to their shape and orientation, but in some ca ses it was invariant to these features. Response magnitudes to single bar, Y-like figure and cross were positively correlated. Simulation showed that the disinhibition might be a sufficient mechanism for effective detection o f Y-like figures in a classical receptive field. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.