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Functional alignment of feedback effects from visual cortex to thalamus

Nature Neuroscience volume 9, pages 1330–1336 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

Following from the classical work of Hubel and Wiesel, it has been recognized that the orientation and the on- and off-zones of receptive fields of layer 4 simple cells in the visual cortex are linked to the spatial alignment and properties of the cells in the visual thalamus that relay the retinal input. Here we present evidence showing that the orientation and the on- and off-zones of receptive fields of layer 6 simple cells in cat visual cortex that provide feedback to the thalamus are similarly linked to the alignment and properties of the receptive fields of the thalamic cells they contact. However, the pattern of influence linked to on- and off-zones is phase-reversed. This has important functional implications.

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Figure 1
Figure 2: Receptive field mapping.
Figure 3: Focal enhancement of cortico-thalamic feedback by iontophoretic application of CGP 55845 (CGP) in layer 6 alters the firing pattern of LGN cells.
Figure 4: Summary of the change in response modes across our LGN sample.
Figure 5: Feedback effects are influenced by the alignment of receptive fields.
Figure 6: Relationship between visual orientation preference and connectivity.

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Acknowledgements

The support of the Medical Research Council is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL, UK

    Wei Wang, Helen E Jones, Ian M Andolina, Thomas E Salt & Adam M Sillito

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  1. Wei Wang
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Correspondence to Adam M Sillito.

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Supplementary information

Supplementary Fig. 1

Does the organization of the cortico-thalamic feedback pathway mirror that of the feed-forward geniculo-cortical projection? (PDF 417 kb)

Supplementary Fig. 2

Schematic diagram summarizing the connectivity suggested by the data. (PDF 113 kb)

Supplementary Fig. 3

Reverse Hubel and Wiesel links in feedback from cortex to LGN. (PDF 635 kb)

Supplementary Methods (PDF 136 kb)

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Wang, W., Jones, H., Andolina, I. et al. Functional alignment of feedback effects from visual cortex to thalamus. Nat Neurosci 9, 1330–1336 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/nn1768

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