Gamma-aminobutyric acid antagonism in visual cortex: different effects on simple, complex, and hypercomplex neurons.

Intravenous bicuculline was used to examine how removing gamma-aminobutyric acid-mediated inhibition affects the visual response properties of single cortical neurons. Simple neurons were depressed and complex neurons showed increase in the vigor and range of responses. Hypercomplex cells were no longer inhibited by elongated stimuli. The results are consistent with present evidence concerning the origin and distribution of inhibitory connections within the cortex.