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Cited by 348Visual perception and processing mechanismsNeuroscience and Neuropharmacology ResearchNeural dynamics and brain function

Contrast gain control in the cat visual cortex

Ohzawa, I., Sclar, G., Freeman, R. D.·1982·Nature
DOI 10.1038/298266a0
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Abstract

The eye functions effectively over an enormous range of ambient illumination, because retinal sensitivity can be adapted to prevailing light levels. Higher order neurones in the visual pathway are presumably more concerned with relative changes in illumination, that is, contrast, because a great deal of information concerning absolute light level is processed at the retinal level. It would therefore be of considerable functional value if cells in the visual cortex could adapt their response levels to a steady-state ambient contrast, in a manner analogous to the sensitivity control mechanism of the retina. We have examined here the idea that adaptation of neurones in the visual cortex to ambient contrast is similar to adaptation in the retina to ambient illumination. The experiments were performed by measuring contrast response functions (response amplitude as a function of contrast) of striate neurones, while systematically adapting them to different contrast levels. Our results show that, for the majority of cortical neurones, response-contrast curves are laterally shifted along a log-contrast axis so that the effective domains of neurones are adjusted to match prevailing contrast levels. This contrast gain control mechanism, which was not observed for lateral geniculate (LGN) fibres, must be of prime importance to visual function.

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Authors
Ohzawa, I., Sclar, G., & Freeman, R. D.
Affiliations
University of California, Berkeley (US)
ORCID
Venue
Nature
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
1982-07
Volume
298
Issue
5871
Pages
266-268
ISSN
  • 0028-0836 (ISSN-L)
  • 1476-4687
DOI
10.1038/298266a0
OpenAlex
W2020222647
Cited by
348
References
6
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 14 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 15
FWCI
2.14
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
Locations
  • Nature (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Visual perception and processing mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural dynamics and brain function
Keywords
contrast gain control, visual cortex, primary visual cortex, contrast adaptation, contrast response function, lateral geniculate nucleus, retinal sensitivity, ambient light, cats
MeSH terms
Adaptation, Ocular, Animals, Evoked Potentials, Visual, Lighting, Neurons, Afferent, Retina, Visual Cortex, Visual Pathways, In Vitro Techniques

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