INFORMATION PROCESSING IN THE FROG'S RETINA
Abstract
The information handling properties of the frog's retina were studied by three techniques. (a) An attempt was made to investigate the mutual interaction of excitatory and inhibitory connections to bipolar cells by studying the averaged electroretinogram response to stimulation with various patterns of light. It was found that present techniques of electroretinography and photometry did not permit the required stability of measurement. (b) Light and electron microscope studies were made of the cell types and connections of the frog's retina. Illustrative micrographs are included in the report. The new findings were made that the Landolt club of the small bipolar cell is a mitochondria-packed process and that it terminates as a cilium in the aqueous space between the visual cells. It is suggested that the function of these structures is to detect the presence of bleached, unregenerated visual pigment molecules in the surrounding visual cells. (c) A technique was developed which seems to result in selective staining of the active bipolar-ganglion cell synapses. With it functional and anatomical studies were correlated to identify the four ganglion cell anatomic types which transmit information each as to the presence in its receptive field of (1) an edge, (2) a small dark image, (3) a changing light distribution, and (4) a dimming of light intensity.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 1965
- Accession Number
- AD0614249
Entities
People
- Leo E. Lipetz
Organizations
- Ohio State University