Vnek N, Ramsden B M, Hung C P, Goldman-Rakic P S, Roe A W
Section of Neurobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1999 Mar 30;96(7):4057-60. doi: 10.1073/pnas.96.7.4057.
As demonstrated by anatomical and physiological studies, the cerebral cortex consists of groups of cortical modules, each comprising populations of neurons with similar functional properties. This functional modularity exists in both sensory and association neocortices. However, the role of such cortical modules in perceptual and cognitive behavior is unknown. To aid in the examination of this issue we have applied the high spatial resolution optical imaging methodology to the study of awake, behaving animals. In this paper, we report the optical imaging of orientation domains and blob structures, approximately 100-200 micrometer in size, in visual cortex of the awake and behaving monkey. By overcoming the spatial limitations of other existing imaging methods, optical imaging will permit the study of a wide variety of cortical functions at the columnar level, including motor and cognitive functions traditionally studied with positron-emission tomography or functional MRI techniques.
解剖学和生理学研究表明，大脑皮层由一组组皮质模块组成，每个模块都包含具有相似功能特性的神经元群体。这种功能模块化存在于感觉新皮层和联合新皮层中。然而，这种皮质模块在感知和认知行为中的作用尚不清楚。为了有助于研究这个问题，我们将高空间分辨率光学成像方法应用于对清醒、行为活动的动物的研究。在本文中，我们报告了在清醒、行为活动的猴子的视觉皮层中对大小约为100 - 200微米的取向域和斑点结构的光学成像。通过克服其他现有成像方法的空间限制，光学成像将允许在柱状水平上研究各种各样的皮质功能，包括传统上用正电子发射断层扫描或功能磁共振成像技术研究的运动和认知功能。
