Abstract
Functional differences among various portions of the cerebral cortex are often correlated with differing cortical layering patterns. Convenient, accurate techniques for scoring layering should therefore prove useful in electrophysiological as well as anatomical investigations. We report the application of a computer-controlled scanning microdensitometer as a means of rapid measurement of optical densities in histological sections of monkey visual cortices, areas 17 and 18. The technique readily permits recognition of the previously defined cortical layers and suggests that still finer consistent layering patterns exist; it provides objective "fingerprints" of cortical regions which facilitate comparisons of structure from area to area and from animal to animal. The procedure should serve also to score the positions of autoradiographic grains, degenerating axonal terminals, and other labeled structures, and to allow the comparison of preparations stained by various techniques.
Full text
PDF
Images in this article
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Gilbert C. D., Kelly J. P. The projections of cells in different layers of the cat's visual cortex. J Comp Neurol. 1975 Sep;163(1):81–105. doi: 10.1002/cne.901630106. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Hubel D. H., Wiesel T. N. Laminar and columnar distribution of geniculo-cortical fibers in the macaque monkey. J Comp Neurol. 1972 Dec;146(4):421–450. doi: 10.1002/cne.901460402. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Hubel D. H., Wiesel T. N. Receptive fields and functional architecture of monkey striate cortex. J Physiol. 1968 Mar;195(1):215–243. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1968.sp008455. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Hubel D. H., Wiesel T. N. Sequence regularity and geometry of orientation columns in the monkey striate cortex. J Comp Neurol. 1974 Dec 1;158(3):267–293. doi: 10.1002/cne.901580304. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Hubel D. H., Wiesel T. N. Stereoscopic vision in macaque monkey. Cells sensitive to binocular depth in area 18 of the macaque monkey cortex. Nature. 1970 Jan 3;225(5227):41–42. doi: 10.1038/225041a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Jones E. G., Burton H., Porter R. Commissural and cortico-cortical "columns" in the somatic sensory cortex of primates. Science. 1975 Nov 7;190(4214):572–574. doi: 10.1126/science.810887. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- LeVay S., Hubel D. H., Wiesel T. N. The pattern of ocular dominance columns in macaque visual cortex revealed by a reduced silver stain. J Comp Neurol. 1975 Feb 15;159(4):559–576. doi: 10.1002/cne.901590408. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Lund J. S., Lund R. D., Hendrickson A. E., Bunt A. H., Fuchs A. F. The origin of efferent pathways from the primary visual cortex, area 17, of the macaque monkey as shown by retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase. J Comp Neurol. 1975 Dec 1;164(3):287–303. doi: 10.1002/cne.901640303. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Lund J. S. Organization of neurons in the visual cortex, area 17, of the monkey (Macaca mulatta). J Comp Neurol. 1973 Feb 15;147(4):455–496. doi: 10.1002/cne.901470404. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- MOUNTCASTLE V. B., POWELL T. P. Central nervous mechanisms subserving position sense and kinesthesis. Bull Johns Hopkins Hosp. 1959 Oct;105:173–200. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- POWELL T. P., MOUNTCASTLE V. B. Some aspects of the functional organization of the cortex of the postcentral gyrus of the monkey: a correlation of findings obtained in a single unit analysis with cytoarchitecture. Bull Johns Hopkins Hosp. 1959 Sep;105:133–162. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]