Visual cortex role in object discrimination in cats deprived of pattern vision from birth.

A simultaneous object discrimination task for food reward was elaborated in normal cats and in cats deprived of pattern vision from birth. In the latter the learning was more difficult and retraining was necessary after a preoperative retention period. In both groups the cortical projection of central vision was removed in areas 17, 18 and 19. In deprived cats the deficit following the cortical lesion was less than in normal animals. It is concluded that deprived cats used visual cortex less in learning and thus they learned more slowly but were less deficient postoperatively.