Responses to diffuse monochromatic light were recorded from single units in the diencephalon of pigeon. Units were both excited and inhibited by light stimulation. Intensity-response functions based on latency measures to the first spike after stimulation were used to generate action spectra. One class of spectral sensitivity functions presumably from rods, showed peak sensitivities near 500 nm: these functions were unaffected by changing criterion values used to generate the functions. A second class of cone functions showed multiple peak sensitivities at 540 nm and 600–620 nm. These units shifted their peak sensitivities with a change in criterion values. Unit response types tended to be localized differentially in the nucleus rotundus. Excitatory units were located in the dorsal half of the nucleus, while inhibitory units were located in the ventral half, with a few exceptions. An attempt was made to integrate the present findings with previous behavioral, electrophysiological, photochemical, and anatomical data in the pigeon.
Article|
March 01 1971
The Spectral Sensitivity of Single Units in the Nucleus Rotundus of Pigeon, Columba livia
A. M. Granda,
A. M. Granda
From the Department of Psychology, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19711
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S. Yazulla
S. Yazulla
From the Department of Psychology, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19711
Search for other works by this author on:
A. M. Granda
From the Department of Psychology, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19711
S. Yazulla
From the Department of Psychology, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19711
Received:
March 17 1970
Online Issn: 1540-7748
Print Issn: 0022-1295
Copyright © 1971 by The Rockefeller University Press
1971
J Gen Physiol (1971) 57 (3): 363–384.
Article history
Received:
March 17 1970
Citation
A. M. Granda, S. Yazulla; The Spectral Sensitivity of Single Units in the Nucleus Rotundus of Pigeon, Columba livia . J Gen Physiol 1 March 1971; 57 (3): 363–384. doi: https://doi.org/10.1085/jgp.57.3.363
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