The conduction velocity of lateral inhibition in the cat's retina

The latency of the inhibition of the neuronal activity elicited by light stimuli in the inhibitory receptive field periphery was measured by means of microelectrodes action potentials of single optic nerve fibers from on-center neurons of the cat's retina.

Abstract

By means of microelectrodes action potentials of single optic nerve fibers from on-center neurons of the cat's retina were recorded. The latency of the inhibition of the neuronal activity elicited by light stimuli in the inhibitory receptive field periphery was measured. The inhibiting light stimuli (rings or bars) were projected into different parts of the receptive field periphery. From the spatial separations of the inhibiting light stimuli and the differences of the corresponding inhibition latencies the conduction velocity of lateral inhibition within the receptive field was measured. A value of 90–110 mm · sec−1 in the retina was found, which corresponds to about 400–480 degrees · sec−1 in the visual field.