Abstract
We have analyzed the responses of cat retinal ganglion cells to luminosity gratings that are modulated in time by a sum of sinusoids. A judicious choice of the component temporal frequencies permits a separation of the linear and second order nonlinear components. Y cell responses show harmonic generation and intermodulation distortion over a wide frequency range. These nonlinear components predominate over the linear components for certain types of spatial stimuli. Nonlinear components in X cells are greatly diminished in comparison. The character of the nonlinear responses provides strong constraints on prospective models for the nonlinear pathway of the Y cell.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 3068-3072 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America |
Volume | 74 |
Issue number | 7 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 1977 |
Externally published | Yes |