Connections between pyramidal neurons in layer 5 of cat visual cortex (area 17)

The structural features of two physiologically‐characterised pyramidal neurons (PC1 and PC2) closely situated in layer 5b in the visual cortex (area 17) of a single cat were studied using a combination of electrophysiological and anatomical techniques. Both PC1 and PC2 had exceptionally large somata (30–40 μm in diameter). On the basis of this and other morphological features cell PC1 was classified as a Meynert cell. PC1 possessed a very large (2.75° × 4.50°) binocularly driven standard complex receptive field. PC2 was also binocularly driven with a small, B‐type receptive field. Both cells had the same preference for the direction and orientation of visual stimuli. PC1 and PC2 could be antidromically activated from stimulating electrodes positioned above the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus with a response latency indicating that these cells probably innervated the visual tectum or pretectum.

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