A quantitative analysis of linear and nonlinear response characteristics of ganglion cells in the frog.
Item
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Title
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A quantitative analysis of linear and nonlinear response characteristics of ganglion cells in the frog.
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Identifier
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AAI9029991
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identifier
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9029991
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Creator
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Zaleski, Patricia Ann.
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Contributor
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Adviser: James Gordon
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Date
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1990
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Psychology, Psychobiology | Biology, Neuroscience
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Abstract
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The present study examined the functional properties of frog (Rana pipiens) ganglion cells, classified as X, Y and X (W-like) based upon criteria used in the cat. Extracellular recordings were obtained from 75 ganglion cells in the isolated eyecup preparation. These cells' responses, to a variety of spatial sinusoids, were Fourier analyzed into linear and nonlinear components.;While X, Y, and X cells in the frog displayed a number of essential similarities, regarding spatial summation, to their counterparts in the cat specific differences were noted. (1) Most frog X cells lacked the surround inhibition typical of cat X cells. (2) Unlike cat Y cells, frog Y cells did not produce frequency doubled responses until moderately high spatial frequencies were examined during the null test. (3) Frog Y cells could be further subdivided into two groups: Y1 and Y2. Y1 cells were characterized by a nonlinear summating mechanism widely distributed throughout a large, homogeneous receptive field. The receptive fields of Y2 cells consisted of mutually antagonistic center and flanking regions with nonlinear components restricted to receptive field centers. A number of additional properties served to further distinguish between these subgroups.;Contrast dependent enhancement of responses to high temporal frequencies was observed in Y cells and, to a lesser degree, X cells suggesting the operation of a mechanism similar to the contrast gain control described in the cat. The form of this enhancement was, however, not identical to that observed in the cat. At low spatial frequencies, high contrasts typically produced shifts in the response's temporal phase without concomitantly affecting response amplitude. Only at high spatial frequencies did high contrasts affect both phase and amplitude response components.;The implications of these differences in terms of known functional and structural differences between cat and frog are discussed.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
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degree
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Ph.D.
