ORGANIZATION OF INFEROTEMPORAL CORTEX

本研究的目的是了解灵长类动物大脑皮层中物体感知的神经机制。拟议的实验集中在V1，V2和V4区域，这些区域形成了灵长类动物视觉皮层中低水平和中等水平的对象处理的基础。第一系列的实验将检查新的方面的模块和子模块组织的区域V2和他们的输入从V1和输出到V4。光学记录的内在皮质信号将被用来表征V2的功能架构，并指导注射神经解剖示踪剂到特定的V2模块或子模块。这些研究将确定（1）2-3个相邻V2细条纹投射到V4的模式，（2）V2细条纹子模块是否从V1斑点和斑点间细胞的不同群体接收输入并投射到V4的不同部分，以及（4）V2是否包含对方向特异性周围拮抗的色敏感性不同的神经元簇。第二个系列的实验将使用光学记录的内在皮层信号和传统的微电极记录，以检查V4区的功能结构。这些实验将确定（1）V4中色彩和方向处理分离的程度，以及（4）V4中色彩和方向特异性环绕拮抗的功能结构。 总的来说，这些实验将提供新的洞察领域V1和V2的模块化和子模块化组织，并将导致更好地理解V4的功能架构。本研究的长期目标是将特定V4模块的功能特性与它们与V1，V2和其他皮层区域的连接联系起来。 这些实验为今后研究特定的V4模块及其与下颞叶皮层各个皮层区域的关系奠定了基础。

The goal of this research is to understand the neural mechanisms that underlie object perception in the primate cerebral cortex. The proposed experiments focus on areas V1, V2, and V4, which form the basis of low level and intermediate levels of object processing in the primate visual cortex. The first series of experiments will examine new aspects of the modular and submodular organizations of area V2 and their inputs from V1 and outputs to V4. Optical recording of intrinsic cortical signals will be used to characterize the functional architecture of V2 and to guide injections of neuroanatomical tracers into specific V2 modules or submodules. These studies will determine (1) the pattern of projections of 2-3 adjacent V2 thin stripes to V4, (2) whether V2 thin stripe submodules receive inputs from different populations of V1 blob and interblob cells and project to different portions of V4, and (4) whether V2 contains clusters of neurons that differ in their sensitivity to chromatic of orientation-specific surround antagonism. The second series of experiments will use optical recording of intrinsic cortical signals and conventional microelectrode recording to examine the functional architecture of area V4. These experiments will determine (1) the degree to which chromatic and orientation processing are segregated in V4, and (4) the functional architecture of chromatic and orientation-specific surround antagonism in V4. Overall, these experiments will provide new insight into the modular and submodular organizations of areas V1 and V2 and will lead to better understanding of the functional architecture of V4. The long-term goal of this research is to link the functional properties of specific V4 modules to their connections with V1, V2 and other cortical areas. These experiments lay the groundwork for future investigations of specific V4 modules and their relationship with individual cortical areas of inferotemporal cortex.