A neurophysiological determination of the vertical horopter in the cat and owl

Abstract

We have undertaken a determination of the vertical horopter in two species by simultaneously mapping the receptive field positions of binocular cortical neurons at various elevations along the zero azimuthal meridians. In the paralyzed cat our recordings show that the zero meridians of the two eyes are parallel and vertical under paralysis. Slit-pupil photographs demonstrate that paralysis induces an average net intorsin of 9 degrees between the two eyes. Correction back to the unparalyzed state results in the zero meridians themselves being out-torted with respect to each other. Since the two eyes' zero meridians define physiologically the positions of corresponding retinal points, this out-torsion results in a vertical horopter in the mid-sagittal plane which is tilted away from the alert, unparalyzed cat. The limited eye movements of the owl permit the use of an unparalyzed preparation; it is therefore possible to avoid the problem of the cyclotorsion under paralysis which occurs in the cat. The results of our physiological analysis in the burrowing owl (Speotyto cunicularia) also reveal a tilted horopter in this terrestrial avian species.