Cerebral Cortex, Vol 7, 386-393, Copyright © 1997 by Oxford University Press
R Malach, TD Schirman, M Harel, RB Tootell and D Malonek
Area MT (middle temporal) is a well-defined visual representation common to
all primates, which shows a clear selectivity to the analysis of visual
motion. In the present study we examined the architecture of the intrinsic
connections in area MT in an attempt to reveal its organizing principles
and its potential relationship to the functional domains in area MT.
Intrinsic connections were studied by placing small injections of the
tracer biocytin in area MT of seven adult owl monkeys (Aotus nancymae). The
injections were targeted at well-defined orientation domains revealed using
optical imaging of intrinsic signals. The distribution of axons labeled by
these injections was related both to the cytochrome oxidase histochemistry
and to the layout of functional domains in area MT and surrounding tissue.
Tracer injections in the superficial layers of area MT produced a complex
network of extrinsic and intrinsic axonal connections. Clear instances of
extrinsic connections were observed between area MT proper and the MT
crescent situated postero-medially to it. The intrinsic connections were
laterally spread and organized in patch-like clusters with an average
distance from injection center to the furthest patch of 1.8 +/- 0.55 mm
(+/-SD, n = 9). The overall axonal distribution tended to be anisotropic,
i.e. the patches were distributed within an elongated ellipse [average
anisotropy ratio: 1.86 +/- 0.66 (+/-SD)] and were asymmetrically
distributed about either side of the injection site [average asymmetry
ratio: 2.3 +/- 0.7 (+/-SD)]. Finally, there was a tendency for the
intrinsic connections to connect to functional domains of similar
orientation preference in area MT. However, this tendency varied
substantially between individual cases. The highly specific nature of MT
lateral connections puts clear constraints on models of surround influences
in the receptive fields of MT neurons.
ARTICLES
Organization of intrinsic connections in owl monkey area MT
Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
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