Coding of Spatio-Temporal Parameters by Cat Visual Cortical Neurons: Influence of Stimulus Velocity, Direction and Amplitude of Movement

Abstract

The retinal image is constantly shifting. This movement can be caused by movement in the visual world, movement of the subject, or movement of the eye. The latter movements give rise to swift displacement resulting from saccadic or pursuit eye movements or to slow drifts as during fixation. The dynamic nature of the retinal image underlines the importance of studies devoted to the influence of spatio-temporal parameters. The movement parameters most commonly investigated are angular velocity and direction of movement. Both parameters describe completely the movement of a stimulus. An alternative description is given by direction and amplitude of movement.