Yu Hsin-Hao, Rosa Marcello G P
Department of Physiology and Monash Vision Group, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia.
J Vis. 2010 Dec 16;10(14):15. doi: 10.1167/10.14.15.
Modern neurophysiological and psychophysical studies of vision are typically based on computer-generated stimuli presented on flat screens. While this approach allows precise delivery of stimuli, it suffers from a fundamental limitation in terms of the maximum achievable spatial coverage. This constraint becomes important in studies that require stimulation of large expanses of the visual field, such as those involving the mapping of receptive fields throughout the extent of a cortical area or subcortical nucleus, or those comparing neural response properties across a wide range of eccentricities. Here we describe a simple and highly cost-effective method for the projection of computer-generated stimuli on a hemispheric screen, which combines the advantages of computerized control and wide-field (100° × 75°) delivery, without the requirement of highly specialized hardware. The description of the method includes programming techniques for the generation of stimuli in spherical coordinates and for the quantitative determination of receptive field sizes and shapes. The value of this approach is demonstrated by quantitative electrophysiological data obtained in the far peripheral representations of various cortical areas, including automated mapping of receptive field extents in cortex that underwent plasticity following lesions.
现代视觉神经生理学和心理物理学研究通常基于在平面屏幕上呈现的计算机生成刺激。虽然这种方法能够精确地传递刺激，但在可实现的最大空间覆盖范围方面存在根本限制。在需要刺激大面积视野的研究中，这种限制变得很重要，例如那些涉及在整个皮质区域或皮质下核的范围内绘制感受野的研究，或者那些比较不同离心率下神经反应特性的研究。在这里，我们描述了一种简单且极具成本效益的方法，用于将计算机生成的刺激投射到半球形屏幕上，该方法结合了计算机控制和宽视野（100°×75°）传递的优点，而无需高度专业化的硬件。该方法的描述包括用于在球坐标中生成刺激以及定量确定感受野大小和形状的编程技术。在包括经历损伤后可塑性的皮质中感受野范围的自动映射在内的各种皮质区域的远周边表征中获得的定量电生理数据证明了这种方法的价值。
