Structure of reciprocal connections in visual cortical areas 17 and 18 in cats

Single cortical columns of areas 17, 18 in the cat were microiontophoretically injected with horseradish peroxidase. Spatial and laminar distributions of retrogradell labelled cells in both areas were investigated. Following injections in area 17 or in area 18 the labelled cells' region in area 17 was elongated (in a tangential plane) along the representation of visual field horizontal meridian. However the labelled cells' region in area 18 was elongated along the representation of vertical meridian. Such projection patterns appear to be common in these cortical areas throughout the central 10 degrees on various elevations (from -40 degrees to +10 degrees) of the visual field representation. Thus the spatial arrangement of intrinsic and extrinsic connections in each area coincides, at the same time in area 17 they are orthogonal to area 18. The following visual information exchange scheme may be suggested. Area 17 may supply the area 18 with more detailed information on the horizontal component of the visual image, and in the opposite direction the information on the vertical component of the same image may be supplied.