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. 1968 Apr;195(3):535–556. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1968.sp008473

Spectral properties of dark-adapted retinal ganglion cells in the plaice (Pleuronectes platessa, L.)

P Hammond
PMCID: PMC1351685  PMID: 5649636

Abstract

1. Spectral, spatial and temporal properties of receptive fields of dark-adapted, on—off retinal ganglion cells in the intact eye of the plaice, were analysed by recording from their axon terminals in the superficial layers of the optic tectum with indium micro-electrodes.

2. Two cell-types were identified. The first gave fast-adapting, spectrally opponent on—off responses without centre-surround subdivisions of the receptive field. On and off response-components were mutually antagonistic. The second type gave slow-adapting on—off or off responses for different stimulus positions within the receptive field, with centre-surround or adjacent field configurations. Only on—off centre cells, showing mutual antagonism between field centre and surround, or off centre cells with inhibitory centres, were found. These cells had weak opponent or non-opponent properties.

3. Most cells of each type received inputs both from cones and rods. At stimulus intensities suprathreshold for cones, response-components gave spectral peaks which have been classified into one of four wave-length ranges; blue, 440-460 nm; blue-green, 470-490 nm; green, 510-540 nm; and orange, 560-590 nm. No cells analysed gave sensitivity maxima in the red. At low stimulus intensities all cells with rod input gave a single spectral peak between 510 and 530 nm.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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