The nonlinear pathway of Y ganglion cells in the cat retina

J Gen Physiol. 1979 Dec;74(6):671-89. doi: 10.1085/jgp.74.6.671.

Abstract

Retinal ganglion cells of the Y type in the cat retina produce two different types of response: linear and nonlinear. The nonlinear responses are generated by a separate and independent nonlinear pathway. The functional connectivity in this pathway is analyzed here by comparing the observed second-order frequency responses of Y cells with predictions of a "sandwich model" in which a static nonlinear stage is sandwiched between two linear filters. The model agrees well with the qualitative and quantitative features of the second-order responses. The prefilter in the model may well be the bipolar cells and the nonlinearity and postfilter in the model are probably associated with amacrine cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Action Potentials
  • Animals
  • Cats
  • Mathematics
  • Models, Biological*
  • Neurons / physiology*
  • Retina / cytology*
  • Synaptic Transmission*