Influence of amacrine cells on receptive field organization of ganglion cells of the generalized vertebrate cone retina: electronic simulation.

Two classes of amacrine cells are simulated, small-field and large-field. Small-field amacrine cells are formed by input from a single bipolar cell, while large-field amacrine cell is formed by inputs from same 7 bipolar cells that form the ganglion cell. Only tonic amacrine cells are studied with both chromatic and luminosity types as well as double- and single-opponent receptive fields. Amacrine cells are used in both feedforward to ganglion cells and feedback to bipolar and horizontal cells. Feedback to bipolar cells or feedforward to ganglion cells affected steady state levels in a predictable fashion. Negative feedback to bipolar cells and positive feedforward to ganglion cells does not introduce transients to ganglion cells while negative feedback to horizontal cells and negative feedforward does. Feedback to horizontal cells produces complex effects on bipolar, amacrine and ganglion cells dependent on such factors as center-surround field balance and negative feedback from luminosity type of horizontal cell to cones.