Interactions Between on and off Signals in Directional Motion Detectors Feeding the NOT of the Wallaby

Abstract

An apparent motion stimulus is used to probe the interactions between signals representing brightness increments (on stimuli) and decrements (off stimuli) in the directional motion detectors forming the input to the nucleus of the optic tract (NOT) of the wallaby, Macropus eugenii. Direction-selective NOT neurons increase their firing rates during image motion from temporal-to-nasal over the contralateral eye (preferred direction) and their spontaneous activities are inhibited by motion in the opposite, anti-preferred direction. An apparent motion stimulus, consisting of neighboring vertical bars, where the brightness can be manipulated independently, also produces directional responses. Preferred direction sequences of brightness changes of like polarities (on-onor off-off) produce increased firing rates while sequences of opposite polarities (on-offor off-on) in the same direction produce relatively small excitatory responses or inhibit the spontaneous rate. For apparent motion in the anti-preferred direction, these directional properties are reversed, showing that signals for brightness increments and decrements provide inputs to the same motion detectors. There is no evidence for segregation of motion detectors into those receiving only half-wave rectified inputs. Interactions between on andoff signals utilize the sign of the incoming signals. An array of Reichardt-type motion detectors receiving inputs represented as positive and negative values for on and offstimuli, respectively, are used to simulate the NOT responses. The brightness signals enter band-pass temporal filters prior to motion detection. By altering the time constants of these prefilters, it was possible to accurately simulate the time courses of each cell's responses.