Comparison of response of properties of three types of monosynaptic S-cell in cat striate cortex.

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Abstract
The receptive-field properties of 3 types of S-cell receiving a monosynaptic input from the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) were quantitatively studied in the striate cortex of anesthetized and paralyzed cats. Two of these groups were located in lamina 4; one received a fast-conducting input from brisk transient (BT) or Y-cells of the LGN and the other, the slow-input groups, from the brisk sustained (BS) or X-cells. The 3rd group comprised monosynaptic S-cells located in lamina 6. When reponse properties of the 3 types of S-cell were compared, no significant differences were observed in the following parameters: direction selectivity, ocular dominance, binocular interaction, the strength of side-band inhibition, spontaneous activity, or the persistance of the response to flashing stimuli. Class differences were apparent in receptive-field size. The clearest class differences were apparent in the lateral dimensions of the receptive fields (along the line parallel to the optimal orientation). Trends were also noted in the distributions of cutoff velocities for the 2 types of S-cell in lamina 4. Fast and slow input monosynaptic S-cells of lamina 4 play complementary roles in the analysis of visual stimuli. The differences between the 3 groups are taken as evidence that the type of afferent input and the laminar distribution are important determinants of the receptive-field properties of S-cells in cat area 17.