A Computer Controlled Method for Determining the Fields of Visual System Neurons

Determining the shape of the response field of a visual system neuron by monitoring its responses to a manually manipulated light stimulus is a very tedious procedure. Equipment and computer programs are here described which allow a computer to control the shape of a stimulus image while it monitors the response of a unit (neuron). The technique was used on simulated neurons and neurons of the lateral geniculate bodies of experimental animals (cats). Preliminary results showed that the technique repeatably located and sized the response fields of these units.