A reevaluation of the functional organization and cytoarchitecture of the feline lateral posterior complex, with observations on adjoining cell groups

The organization of the cat's lateral posterior complex was reevaluated and its cytoarchitecture described, Analysis of visual representations within the complex confirmed that the pulvinar, lateral zone (LPl), and interjacent zone (LPi) correspond to separate representations of the visual field and established that the zones exhibit heterogeneous connections as a result of retinotopic interconnections with extrastriate areas which represent varying amounts of the visual field. A common system of visual representation extending through layers with differing anatomical connections was identified within zone LPl. The concept of an “isorepresentation cord” was introduced to describe these variable correspondences between sensory representations and connectional relationships. Isorepresentation cords are conceived as holding in common representation of a common locus on a sensory surface without functioning as a unit with respect to connections. Visual representations wtihin the lateral posterior complex consist of many such cords arranged in orderly array.