Mapping of brain activity in mesencephalic and diencephalic structures of toads during presentation of visual key stimuli: a computer assisted analysis of (14C)2DG autoradiographs

Summary The (¹⁴C)2DG autoradiographic technique has been employed to quantitatively map glucose utilization in the mesencephalon, the diencephalon and the cerebellum, of toads in response to configurational moving visual stimuli: (i) a 0.4 cm × 2.8 cm worm-like stripe (W) which elicited prey catching responses, (ii) a 8.4 cm × 8.4 cm square (S) that released predator avoidance responses, and (iii) a 2.8 cm × 0.4 cm antiworm-like stripe (A) which elicited no motor activity.For various brain nuclei different relationships were obtained: The optic tectum showed statistical significant higher 2DG uptake during worm-stimulation (¯X _W) than during antiworm stimulation (¯X _A), i.e.¯X _W>¯X _A. The latter visual pattern led to a 2DG utilization that was statistically significant stronger than during stimulation with a square (¯X _S), i.e.¯X _A>¯X _S. Thus, in comparison between right and left hemisphere as well as between brains the following ratios were obtained:Optic tectum:¯X _W>¯X _A>¯X _S; nucleus isthmi:¯X _W>¯X _A-¯X _s; posterodorsal lateral thalamic nucleus:¯X _S>¯X _A>¯X _W; posteroventral lateral thalamic nucleus:¯X _S>¯X _A¯X _W; posterior thalamic nucleus:¯X _W>¯X _A¯X _S; anteripr division of the lateral thalamic nucleus:¯X _W>¯X _A¯X _S; anterior thalamic nucleus:¯X _A>¯X _S>¯X _W; nucleus of Bellonci and dorsal division of the ventrolateral thalamic nucleus:¯X _W¯X _A¯X _S; cerebellum:¯X _S¯X _W>¯X _A.Abbreviations A anterior thalamic nucleus - Cb cerebellum - Hyp hypothalamus - Ist nucleus isthmi - cl. Ist contralateral Ist - La lateral thalamic nucleus, anterior division - Lpd lateral thalamic nucleus, posterodorsal division - Lpv lateral thalamic nucleus, posteroventral division - MP medial pallium - NB/VLd nucleus of Bellonci and ventrolateral thalamic nucleus, dorsal division - P posterior thalamic nucleus - PO preoptic area - Sna snapping evoking area=ventrolateral tectum - Str striatum - Tec tectum opticum     

Intracellular activity of morphologically identified neurons of the grass frog's optic tectum in response to moving configurational visual stimuli

Summary In the grass frogRana temporaria, various classes of tectal neurons were identified by means of intracellular recording and iontophoretic staining using potassium-citrate/Co³⁺-lysine-filled micropipettes, which have been defined previously by extracellular recording methods. Class T5(1) neurons had receptive fields (RF) of 33°±5° diameter. In response to a moving 8°×8° square (S), a 2°×16° worm-like (W), or a 16°×2° antiworm-like (A) moving stripe, these cells showed excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) and spikes which were interrupted occasionally by small inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs). The excitatory responses (R) were strongest towards the square (R_S) and less to the worm (R_W). For the antiworm (R_A) the responses were smallest or equal to the worm stimulus yielding the relationship R_S>R_WR_A. Some of these cells were identified as pear-shaped or large ganglionic neurons, whose somata were located in the tectal cell layer 8. The somata of other large ganglionic neurons were found in layer 7 and the somata of other pear-shaped neurons at the top of layer 6, both displaying T5(1) properties. Class T5(2) neurons (RF=34°±3°) responded with large EPSPs and spikes, often interrupted by small IPSPs, when their RF was traversed by the square stimulus. The excitatory activity was somewhat less to the worm stimulus, whereas no activity at all, or only IPSPs, were recorded in response to the antiworm-stimulus; thus yielding the relationship for the excitatory activity R_S>R_W>R_A 0. Such a cell was identified as pyramidal neuron; the soma was located at the top of layer 6, with the long axon travelling into layer 7 to the medulla oblongata. Class T5(3) neurons (RF=29°±6°) showing EPSPs and spikes according to the relationship R_S>R_A>R_W have been identified as large ganglionic neurons. Their somata were located in layer 8. Class T5(4) neurons (RF=24±7°) responded only to the square stimulus with EPSPs and spikes, sometimes interrupted by IPSPs and yielding the relationship R_S>R_AR_W0. The somata of these large ganglionic or pear-shaped neurons were located in layer 8. Class T1(1) neurons (RF=30°–40°) were most responsive to stimuli moving at a relatively long distance in the binocular visual field, and have been identified as pear-shaped neurons. Their somata were located in layer 6.Further neurons are described and morphologically identified which have not yet been classified by extracellular recording methods. For example,IPSP neurons (RF=20°–30°) responded (R) with IPSPs only according to the relationship R_S>R_A R_W. The somata of these pear-shaped neurons were located in layer 6.The properties of tectal cells in response to electrical stimulation of the optic tract and to brisk changes of diffuse illumination suggest certain neuronal connectivity patterns. The results support the idea ofintegrative functional units (assemblies) of connected cells which are involved in various perceptual processes, such as configurational prey selection expressed by T5(2) prey-selective neurons.Abbreviations A antiworm-like 16°×2° stripe stimulus with long axis perpendicular to the direction of movement - W wormlike 2°×16° stripe stimulus with long axis oriented parallel to the direction of movement - S square 8°×8° moving stimulus - ERF excitatory receptive field - IRF inhibitory receptive field - RF receptive field - EPSP excitatory postsynaptic potential - IPSP inhibitory postsynaptic potential     

Prey selection by Toads (Bufo bufo L.) in response to configurational stimuli moved in the visual field z,y-coordinates

Summary Recognition of prey-like stimuli by the Common Toad depends on both the shape of the stimulus and its direction of motion. To evoke preycapture the direction of motion must be parallel to the long axis of the stimulus. We show here that the same relation between shape and direction of motion applies to stimuli which moved towards or away from the toad, and that retreating stimuli are more powerful releasers than approaching ones.Supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft Ew 7/6.     

Local cerebral tissue glucose utilization in graded arterial hemorrhagic hypotension, studied by the 14C-2-deoxyglucose method in rats.

The effect of hemorrhagic arterial hypotension on local cerebral glucose metabolism was studied on 33 rats. The mean arterial pressure was set with the aid of a reservoir at 80, 60, 50 and 40 mmHg pressures. Local cerebral glucose utilization was measured with the 14C-2-D-deoxyglucose accumulation autoradiographic technique. Local glucose consumption decreased somewhat in cortical structures when mean arterial pressure was reduced to 60-50 mmHg. Further decrease in mean arterial pressure to 50-40 mmHg caused inhomogeneity of tissue metabolism. Columns and patches of high glucose consumption interchanged with areas of very low glucose consumption in most telencephalic and cerebellar gray matter structures. Brain stem and white matter structures seem to be less sensitive to decreased mean arterial pressure in the range studied. We found a decrease in glucose utilization rather than an increase with decreasing mean arterial pressure down to 60-50 mmHg (in the range of the autoregulation of cerebral circulation). This finding makes it improbable that autoregulation would be connected with elevated anaerobic metabolism of the tissue. Patchy areas and columns of high glucose consumption found at 50-40 mmHg in all probability reflect areas of increased anaerobic metabolism of glucose. Here, circulation was not enough to transport adequate quantity of oxygen to the tissue, but still it transported relative large amount of glucose. Columns and patches of very low glucose consumption should reflect areas, where circulation was inadequate to transport both enough glucose and oxygen.     

Varying response of caudate neurons to visual stimuli in awake cats

Activity in 62 caudate nucleus neurons produced during presentation of visual stimuli was recorded during experiments on awake cats. Response of a sensory pattern, associated with a photic stimulus falling within a certain section of the visual field was observed in 52% of the neurons tested as against only 11% manifesting motor response related to eye movement guided towards a target. About a quarter of the cells responded to biologically significant stimuli, producing a nonspecific response, i.e., not specifically related to the nature of the visual stimuli presented. Several different response patterns could be recorded from a single unit. A hypothesis that more than one parallel pathway for afferent visual inferences on the caudate nucleus may exist is presented on the basis of findings from this research.A. A. Bogomolets Institute of Physiology, Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR, Kiev. Translated from Neirofiziologiya, Vol. 21, No. 3, May–June, pp. 372–378, 1989.     

Reversal time distribution in the perception of visual ambiguous stimuli

Reversal of perspective for ambiguous optical stimuli (Necker cube, Schröder staircase, honeycomb) has been studied, determining the statistical distribution of time intervals spent on each percept. The experimental distributions can be fitted with the gamma function, characterized by two parameters n, b. The two parameters are not independent, showing a correlatiomn = 0.74.Subsequent intervals appear to be largely independent; from the beta distribution for the fraction of time spent on a given percept, one can show that the subjects differ only in regard to the variance of this variable.     

Biliary excretion and organ distribution of 14C radioactivity after 14C-2-ethylhexyl acrylate administration in rats

Rats were intravenously administered (14C)-2-ethylhexyl acrylate at the dose 10 mg/kg or 50 mg/kg b. w. Biliary excretion of 14C-radioactivity was followed in 1-3 hour intervals within the first 24 hours after administration. The rats were then sacrificed and distribution of 14C-radioactivity was followed in some organs. Highest radioactivity was found in liver, less in the kidneys and the least in the brain. A significant increase of bile flow was observed. In the 24-hour intervals 2.2% of the dose was eliminated via bile at both dosages, most of it (83%) during the first 3 hours.     

Neuronal response in the CA1 field of the cat dorsal hippocampus to visual stimuli

Responses of 46 neurons of the CA₁ field, of the dorsal hippocampus to visual stimuli were investigated during acute experiments on awake cats following pretrigeminal brainstem action. The receptive field was small in size in 71% of hippocampal neurons. The cells responded both tonically (34%) and phasically (66%) to the presentation of immobile stimuli. All the test cells of the CA₁ field of the dorsal hippocampus responded to moving visual stimuli and 27% of these neurons were directionally tuned. A group of 7% of the neurons displayed particular sensitivity to the movement of a dark spot across the receptive field; these cells frequently reacted more to a moving dark spot than to a bar. Findings indicate the presence of highly specific sensory neurons within the hippocampus.L. A. Orbeli Institute of Physiology, Academy of Sciences of the Armenian SSR, Erevan. Translated from Neirofiziologiya, Vol. 17, No. 6, pp. 779–786, November–December, 1985.     

Dynamics of changes in the orienting response of rabbits to visual stimuli of growing intensity

The process of formation and the structure of orienting reaction (OR) to rhythmic photic stimuli of growing intensity (beginning with brightnesses near the visibility threshold) was studied in alert non-immobilized rabbits. Motor (movements of the fore and hind paws and the ears) and the vegetative (respiratory) OR components were recorded. No dependence of the emergence of different type reactions on the intensity of the stimulus was disclosed. All the studied kinds of the animal's behavioral responses begin to appear for the first time in a very narrow range of brightness. OR to presented stimuli is not completely extinguished. The process of OR extinction is of a wave-like nature. It is assumed that the structure of the rabbit OR to photic stimuli of low intensities and short durations is determined not so much by physical parameters of the stimulus, as by the animal's condition.     

A model of the human visual system in its response to certain classes of moving stimuli

The purpose of this study is to construct a functional model of the human visual system in its response to certain classes of moving stimuli.Experimental data are presented describing the interdependence of the input variables, temporal frequency, spatial period, etc., for two constant response states, viz. threshold motion response and threshold flicker response. On the basis of these data, two basic units are isolated, a vertical (V) unit and a horizontal (H) unit. The H-unit is identified with the Reichardt multiplier (Reichardt and Varju, 1959), and the V-unit with the de Lange filter (de Lange, 1954).A definition of the general motion response of the H-units is obtained, and this is then reduced to an expression which may be applied directly to the observed motion response data. By this method, Thorson's simplification of the Reichardt scheme (Thorson, 1966) is adopted for the H-unit and total and relative (population) weighting factors, associated with the H-unit output, are defined.In order to reconcile the theoretical square-wave threshold motion response with the experimental data, Thorson's simplification is modified with the introduction of a low-pass filter on the output. The amended scheme is shown to predict a (temporal) frequency-dependent phase-sensitivity. This prediction is tested experimentally, and its validity indicated.     

Selectivity in the response of human cerebral neurons to visual stimuli at different angles of alignment

The neuronal activity of different nuclei of the thalamus and striopallidar complex was investigated in Parkinsonian patients with intracerebral electrodes chronically implanted in these structures for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Neuronal populations were discovered responding differently to the presentation of stimuli identical in all but angle of presentation, some of which responded solely to a single orientation and might therefore be thought of as displaying directional sensitivity. It is suggested that when motor and visual information converge within the above systems, a matching process takes place, together with an interaction relating to stability of visual perception.Institute of Experimental Medicine, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Leningrad; Institute of Information and Automotive Sciences, Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Leningrad. Translated from Neirofizologiya, Vol. 19, No. 1, pp. 3–11, January–February, 1987.     

Quantitative determination of orientational and directional components in the response of visual cortical cells to moving stimuli

The response characteristic of visual cortical cells to moving oriented stimuli consists mainly of directional (D) and orientational (O) components superimposed to a spontaneous activity (S). Commonly used polar plot diagrams reflect the maximal responses for different orientations and directions of stimulus movement with a periodicity of 360 degrees in the visual field. Fast Fourier analysis (FFT) is applied to polar plot data in order to determine the intermingled S, D, and O components. The zero order gain component of the spectrum corresponds to a (virtual) spontaneous activity. The first order component is interpreted as the strength of the direction selectivity and the second order component as the strength of the orientation specificity. The axes of the preferred direction and optimal orientation are represented by the respective phase values. Experimental data are well described with these parameters and relative changes of the shape of a polar plot can be detected with an accuracy better than 1%. The results are compatible with a model of converging excitatory and inhibitory inputs weighted according to the zero to second order components of the Fourier analysis. The easily performed quantitative determination of the S, D, and O components allows the study of pharmacologically induced changes in the dynamic response characteristics of single visual cortical cells.