Responses in the optic tectum of the salamander Hydromantes italicus to moving prey stimuli.

In the tectum opticum of Hydromantes italicus neurons were recorded extracellularly which responded selectively to moving visual stimuli. Part of the recorded cells were marked iontophoretically by means of alcian-blue dye for anatomical localization. Out of a total of 110 neurons six groups could be distinguished which preferred the square stimulus but differed strongly in their responses to rectangles oriented either vertically or horizontally. Two of these groups showed stimulus preference inversion if the stimulus velocity was changed. These response patterns displayed characteristic differences with those known in other amphibia, well corresponding to differences in the prey catching behaviors.