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 vertical line sweeps across the visual field to the left, but stops firing when the same line sweeps back across the visual field to the right. What type of cell is likely being monitored in this case?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The pattern of activity described is characteristic of a complex cell, which responds to elongated stimuli such as lines, edges, and borders. Complex cells have a receptive field that is less sensitive to the location of the stimulus within their receptive field and are selective for the orientation of the stimulus. The fact that the cell stops firing when the line sweeps back across the visual field to the right suggests that it is selective for the direction of motion as well. Simple cells also respond to lines and orientations, but they have a more precise receptive field and are not as invariant to the location of the stimulus within the field. Parvocellular cells are involved in color processing, while hypercomplex cells are a subtype of complex cells.

A Microelectrode Is Recording the Activity from a Single Cell