Yoshioka T, Dow B M
Krieger Mind/Brain Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA.
Behav Brain Res. 1996 Apr;76(1-2):71-88. doi: 10.1016/0166-4328(95)00184-0.
Color and orientation processing in the macaque monkey first segregates into cytochrome oxidase (CO)-rich blobs and -poor interblobs of area V1, from where the two streams flow through areas V2 and V4. This parallel representation is believed to enhance processing speed by compartmentalizing tasks of similar kinds, though our knowledge of the mechanisms is still elementary. We have examined the interaction and separation of color and orientation processing in neurons (n = 569) of the macaque visual cortex (V1, V2, V4) on the basis of microelectrode recordings. In all three areas, neurons selective for midspectral (MS) colors (e.g., yellow, green) were also found to be more orientation selective than those preferring endspectral (ES) colors (e.g., blue, red). The majority of achromatic (AC) cells responsive to bright stimuli were also orientation selective. When locations of cells and penetration columns were correlated with cytochrome oxidase (CO) landmarks in V1 and V2, V1 interblob and V2 interstripe cells were found to be predominantly midspectral and oriented, while V1 blob and V2 thin stripe cells were found to be predominantly endspectral and non-oriented. Cells preferring dark colors were found to cluster in thick stripes in V2, and in columns in V4. Separate clustering of midspectral (MS) and endspectral (ES) systems in V4 was also noted. With the results shown in a companion paper (Behav. Brain Res., 76 (1996) 51-70), the present data indicate that the visual system appears to optimize color and spatial acuity by separating chromatic information into non-oriented endspectral and oriented midspectral components.
猕猴的颜色和方向处理首先在V1区富含细胞色素氧化酶（CO）的斑点和CO含量低的斑间区域分离，然后这两条信息流经V2区和V4区。这种并行表示被认为通过将相似类型的任务进行分区来提高处理速度，尽管我们对其机制的了解仍然很基础。我们基于微电极记录研究了猕猴视觉皮层（V1、V2、V4）中神经元（n = 569）的颜色和方向处理的相互作用与分离。在所有这三个区域中，发现对中光谱（MS）颜色（例如黄色、绿色）有选择性的神经元也比那些偏好端光谱（ES）颜色（例如蓝色、红色）的神经元具有更强的方向选择性。大多数对明亮刺激有反应的消色差（AC）细胞也具有方向选择性。当将细胞和穿透柱的位置与V1和V2中的细胞色素氧化酶（CO）标记相关联时，发现V1斑间和V2条纹间细胞主要是中光谱且有方向的，而V1斑点和V2细条纹细胞主要是端光谱且无方向的。发现偏好深色的细胞聚集在V2区的粗条纹以及V4区的柱中。还注意到V4区中光谱（MS）和端光谱（ES）系统的单独聚类。结合一篇配套论文（《行为脑研究》，76（1996）51 - 70）中所示的结果，目前的数据表明视觉系统似乎通过将颜色信息分离为无方向的端光谱和有方向的中光谱成分来优化颜色和空间敏锐度。
