Work

A Pixel-Encoder Retinal Ganglion Cell with Spatially Offset Excitatory and Inhibitory Receptive Fields

Year: 2018

Type: article

Abstract: The spike trains of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are the only source of visual information to the brain. Here, we genetically identify an RGC type in mice that functions as a pixel encoder and increases firing to light increments (Pix ON -RGC). Pix ON -RGCs have medium-sized dendritic arbors and non-canonical center-surround receptive fields. From their receptive field center, Pix ON -RGCs receive only excitatory input, which encodes contrast and spatial information linearly. From their receptive field surround, Pix ON -RGCs receive only inhibitory input, which is temporally matched to the excitatory center input. As a result, the firing rate of Pix ON -RGCs linearly encodes local image contrast. Spatially offset (i.e., truly lateral) inhibition of Pix ON -RGCs arises from spiking GABAergic amacrine cells. The receptive field organization of Pix ON -RGCs is independent of stimulus wavelength (i.e., achromatic). Pix ON -RGCs project predominantly to the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN) of the thalamus and likely contribute to visual perception.

Source: Cell Reports

DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2018.01.037

Authors: Keith P. Johnson, Lei Zhao, Daniel Kerschensteiner

Institutions: Washington University in St. Louis, Hope Center for Neurological Disorders

Language: English

Topic: Visual perception and processing mechanisms

Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience

Field: Neuroscience

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $5,620

Funders: Research to Prevent Blindness, National Institutes of Health, National Eye Institute, National Institute of General Medical Sciences