Extrastriate cortical neurons correlated with ocular convergence in the cat

Abstract

Responses of neurons in the lateral suprasylvian area to visual stimulation in association with ocular convergence were studied in eight alert cats trained to track a visual target moving in depth. Activities of 18 (3%) of 659 cells were related to ocular convergence. These 18 neurons were divided into two groups: activities of seven neurons (40%) correlated with peak velocities of convergence eye movement at both fast and slow target speeds (group I), while those of five neurons (30%) correlated with them only at faster target speed (group II). Activities of six other neurons correlated with peak velocity of ocular convergence at faster target speed but were not tested at slower speed. Activities of four group-I neurons (60%) did not or only weakly correlate with lens accommodation, while those of four group-II neurons (80%) correlated with peak velocity or amplitude of lens accommodation. It can therefore be concluded that the four group-I neurons are primarily related to ocular convergence. Other cells were either convergence-related, lens accommodation-related or both. It is suggested that these different types of neurons contribute in combination to optimal control of convergence eye movement.