V1 Simple Cell Receptive Field Mapping

This is an old video I made while at U.C. Berkeley in 1990 to demonstrate the process of measuring the receptive field of a neuron (simple type) in the primary visual cortex. Visual stimuli and spikes (action potentials) are shown at top-left and top-right, respectively. The computer sorts out the stimuli that were effective in eliciting spikes, and the results are shown at the bottom. Maps are shown for dark stimuli, bright stimuli, and the composite of the two from left in that order. Stimuli were shown at an angle to match the optimal orientation for this particular neuron, but the receptive field maps are shown upright.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• neuron
• visual cortex
• V1
• receptive field

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What pattern of visual stimuli causes a spike?  It appears to me that spikes result when the line segments flash in a linear path (where the path has the same orientation as the line segments, i.e. southwest to northeast). Is this correct?