Spatial contrast sensitivity of monocularly deprived cats after removal of the non-deprived eye.

Spatial contrast sensitivity was behaviorally determined for two monocularly lid-sutured cats. The spatial contrast sensitivity function for the non-deprived eyes matched previously reported functions obtained from normally reared cats. In comparison, sensitivity was significantly lower at all spatial frequencies for the deprived eye of both cats. In one cat, subsequent removal of the non-deprived eye resulted in a two to threefold increase in sensitivity at all spatial frequencies. However, no improvement in sensitivity was observed for the second animal. Single-unit electrophysiological recording in the striate cortex of these two animals revealed a postenucleation difference in the percent of visually influenced cells. In the cat for which no behavioral improvement occurred, only 13% of striate cortex cells could be driven by visual stimulation of the previously deprived eye. In contrast 38% of striate cortex cells were similarly influenced in the cat for which visual improvement was observed. These data suggest a correlation between the physiological effectiveness of the postcritical period enucleation procedure and the visual capacity of monocularly lid-sutured cats.