Receptive field properties of single units in the opossum striate cortex.

On the basis of their trigger-features, 98 units out of 127 recorded in striate cortex of immobilized opossums, under forced breathing of a nitrous oxide/oxygen mixture, were classified into 5 receptive field groups. Group 1 units (20/127) responding to small stationary spots were shown to be made up of regions of opposite response type and mutual antagonism, separate by linear boundaries. The optimal discharge was elicited by a stimulus configuration consisting of rectilinear regions of opposite contrast positioned and oriented in the visual field so as not to elicit antagonism while maximizing the overlap with regions responsive to that contrast. To edges in motion these units were shown to be made up of light and dark discharge centers, the locations of which could not be predicted from the map to stationary spots. In addition to position and orientation, direction was another important stimulus parameter. Group 2 units (34/127) had uniform requirements of stimulus orientation, direction of motion or both, througout the receptive field. Width was rarely a significant variable. Three subgroups were detected: orientation selective, directional selective and orientation-direction sensitive. Group 3 units (18/127) required stopped stimuli. In most instances (14/18) this property was attributed to a suppressive surround with relatively non-specific stimulus requirements. Oriented and non-oriented responsive receptive fields were observed. Group 3 units with no surround (4/18) responded best to properly positioned and oriented wedges, usually of 90 degrees. Group 4 units (24/127) had uniform fields with little stimulus specificity and were often responsive to diffuse light. Although not sensitive to stimulus orientation and direction, motion was frequently a requisite for optimal responses. Group 5 receptive fields (2/127) had concentrically arranged regions of distinct response type which displayed mutual antagonism. No sensitivity to orientation or direction was detected. Twenty-nine units remained unclassified. Other group distinctions were the relatively higher spontaneous activity of group 4 units and the large field sizes encountered among groups 1 and 4 when compared to group 2. Based on their properties and receptive field type distribution, we propose that striate receptive fields in the opossum have a similar organization to those of other mammals.