A microelectrode is recording the activity from a single cell in the visual cortex of a cat. The cell begins to fire rapidly when a line is presented at a 45-degree angle directly in front of the cat, but stops firing when the line is shifted to a position that is off to the left. What type of cell is likely being monitored in this case?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Simple cells are known to respond best to oriented edges or lines within their receptive field. They have specific orientations that trigger activity, and shifting the stimulus even slightly out of this orientation results in a decrease or complete cessation of firing. Complex cells and hypercomplex cells are also responsive to visual stimuli, but they have larger receptive fields and are less selective to specific orientations. Cells in the superior colliculus are involved in visual processing but are not specific to orientation.

A Microelectrode Is Recording the Activity from a Single Cell