Protan‐like spectral sensitivity of foveal Y ganglion cells of the retina of macaque monkeys.

Abstract

SUMMARY1. The spectral sensitivity of two varieties of macaque Y ganglion cells with a centre-surround organization, type III (non-colour opponent) and type IV (broadband colour opponent), was examined with test stimuli of different size, shape and wave-length.2. The spectral sensitivity of type III cells to large stimuli decreased at the long wave-lengths with decreasing retinal eccentricity; this change was due to a lower sensitivity of green-sensitive than of red-sensitive cone input to the surround of foveal cells, which resulted in stronger surround antagonism at the long than at the short wave-lengths leading to a rudimentary form of colour opponency.3. The spectral properties of foveal type III cells were intermediate between those of perifoveal type III cells, whose surrounds received a rather similar input from both cone types, and of the predominantly foveal type IV cells, whose surrounds appeared to lack input from green-sensitive cones.4. The results indicate that both cell types represent varieties within a continuum of a single macaque Y-cell system which has a reduced long-wave-length sensitivity in the foveal region. The fact that a similar reduction of long-wave-length sensitivity can be observed in (foveal) macaque photopic luminosity functions measured with different techniques by different authors suggest that both types of Y cell have an important role in the processing of luminance information.

Hemispheric asymmetry in temporal resolution: Contribution of the magnocellular pathway

“…As shown in Figure 2 for the 40-msec condition, this disruptive effect was larger for the RVF-LH trials than for the LVF-RH trials and eliminated the RVF-LH advantage. Because the red background is known to produce suppressive effects on magnocellular function (de Monasterio, 1978;de Monasterio & Schein, 1980;Livingstone & Hubel, 1984;Wiesel & Hubel, 1966), these results support the hypothesis that processing of the magnocellular pathway contributes to the LH advantage for fine temporal resolution.…”

“…The type TV cells, which are suppressed by the diffuse red light (e.g., the red background), have been found in low-level sensory areas, such as retinal ganglion cells, LGN, and area 17 of primates' magnocellular pathway (de Monasterio, 1978;de Monasterio & Schein, 1980;Livingstone & Hubel, 1984;Wiesel & Hubel, 1966). These findings suggest that the suppressive effects of the red background occur at early sensory levels and that the activities of these areas somehow contribute to the LH advantage for fine temporal resolution.…”

“…The disruptive effect of the red background is based on the fact that the magnocellular pathway selectively contains cells that have receptive fields with a tonic red surround mechanism (type IV cells). That is, imposing diffuse red light causes a tonic suppression of these cells' excitatory activities (see de Monasterio, 1978;de Monasterio & Schein, 1980;Livingstone & Hubel, 1984;Wiesel & Hubel, 1966).…”

Inhibition of vection by red

“…Magno cells are highly sensitive to transient stimuli and contribute to motion perception (De Yoe & Van Essen, 1988;Lennie, Trevarthen, Van Essen, & Wassle, 1990;Schiller, 1986). A subset of magno cells is inhibited selectively by light with long wavelengths-that is, a red light (de Monasterio & Schein, 1980;Dreher, Fukada, & Rodieck, 1976;Krüger, 1977;Lee, 1996;Livingstone & Hubel, 1987;Shapley, 1990;Wiesel & Hubel, 1966). These magno cells are called Type IV neurons.…”

Metacontrast, target recovery, and the magno- and parvocellular systems: A reply to the perspective

“…The suppressive effects of red light on the response of magnocellular neurons throughout the retino-geniculo-striate tract of macaques have been reported repeatedly (Wiesel & Hubel, 1966;Dreher et al, 1976;De Monasterio & Schein, 1980;Marrocco et al, 1982;Livingstone & Hubel, 1984). Skottun's (2004) analysis of parvocellular color-opponent cells points out that uniform red, green, and blue backgrounds may also differentially affect responses within, especially, the R-G opponent system.…”