A New Method for Measuring the Visuotopic Map Function of Striate Cortex: Validation with Macaque Data and Possible Extension to Measurement of the Human Map
Abstract
The observation and measurement of the visuotopic map of prim ate visual cortex is a classical experimental activity. A number of psychophysical (e.g. vernier acuity, visual acuity, Panum's area stereo acuity, motion thresholds) and anatomical (e.g. retinal cell densities) measurements bear at least a qualitative relationship to the presumed curve of cortical magnification. However, there is no accurate and direct method for estimating human magnification factor; and even for the case of monkeys, where micro- electrode and 2DG experiments have been performed, there is still uncertainty in this area. What is the correct functional form for the primate map? What is the variance of this estimate across a population? In order to address these issues, we have constructed a computer generated planar approximation to the surface of Macaque striate cortex (median flattening error = 5%0. Other topics in this report include: Flattening Visual Cortex at Image Resolution: Quantitative Computer Reconstruction of the Macaque Ocular Dominance Column Pattern; Image Simulation of the Macaque Ocular Dominance Column System; Three Dimensional Computer Reconstruction of the Ocular Dominance Column Pattern of Macaque Striate Cortex: Demonstrating a Digital Tangential Microtome; Frequency Specificity and Inhibitory Interactions for Fourier Descriptors of Boundary Curvature; Image Processing Simulations of the Functional Architecture of Primate Striate Cortex.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1987
- Accession Number
- ADA210008
Entities
People
- Eric M. Schwartz
Organizations
- New York University