Antagonistic Otolith-Visual Units in Cat Vestibular Nuclei

The nature of neural coding of visual (Vis) and vestibular (Vst) information on translational motion in the region of the vestibular nuclei was investigated using extracellular single-unit recordings in alert adult cats. Responses were recorded and averaged over 60 cycles of stimulation in the verti...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 1992-05, Vol.656 (1), p.924-926
Main Authors: DAUNTON, NANCY G., CHRISTENSEN, CAROL A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Cats
Life Sciences (General)
Neurons - physiology
Otolithic Membrane - innervation
Otolithic Membrane - physiology
Space life sciences
Time Factors
Vestibular Nuclei - physiology
Vision, Ocular
Visual Perception
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Summary:The nature of neural coding of visual (Vis) and vestibular (Vst) information on translational motion in the region of the vestibular nuclei was investigated using extracellular single-unit recordings in alert adult cats. Responses were recorded and averaged over 60 cycles of stimulation in the vertical and horizontal planes, which included the Vst (movement of the animal in the dark), Vis (movement within lighted visual surround), and combined Vis and Vst (movement of the animal within the lighted stationary visual surround). Data are reported on responses to stimulations along the axis showing maximal sensitivity. A small number of units were identified that showed an antagonistic relationship between their Vis and Vst responses (since they were maximally excited by Vis and by Vst stimulations in the same direction). Results suggest that antagonistic units may belong to an infrequently encountered, but functionally distinct, class of neurons.
ISSN:0077-8923
1749-6632
DOI:10.1111/j.1749-6632.1992.tb25296.x