Responses of single neurons in the toad's caudal ventral striatum to moving visual stimuli and test of their efferent projection by extracellular antidromic stimulation/recording techniques. 1999

H Buxbaum-Conradi, and J P Ewert
Abteilung Neurobiologie, Fachbereich Biologie/Chemie, Universität Kassel (GhK), Kassel, Germany.

Previous work in anuran amphibians has shown that activity in the caudal ventral striatum correlates with visuomotor activity: orienting responses toward prey fail to occur after striatal lesions. Thus it has been suggested that the striatum influences visually guided behavior. Therefore, the present study investigates visual response properties from neurons recorded in the striatum. Extracellular recordings of 104 single neurons of the cane toad's (Bufo marinus) caudal ventral striatum (STR) reveal five different response properties: resting discharge activity uninfluenced by the visual test stimuli (group STR1, 24.0%); resting discharge activity increased by any moving visual object (STR2, 31.7%); preference to moving compact objects (STR3, 15.4%); preference to certain configurational moving objects (STR4a and b, 13.5%), and resting activity reduced by visual stimuli (STR5, 15.4%). The receptive fields of these neurons encompassed the contralateral (46%) or the entire field of vision (54%). Of the neurons recorded in the striatum, 34% responded to electrical stimuli applied in the rostral diencephalon to the ipsilateral lateral forebrain bundle (LFB) which connects the striatum with the optic tectum (e.g. either directly or via pretectum or tegmentum). Various electrically driven STR neurons (40%) have axons that project caudally through the LFB, which was suggested by their antidromic activation in response to electrical stimuli applied to the LFB in the rostral diencephalon. In the present study, the main striatal output is mediated by 'motion detectors' (STR2) and 'compact object perceivers' (STR3). It is suggested that the caudal ventral striatum is involved in visual attentional processes that allow the translation of perception into action.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009039 Motion Perception The real or apparent movement of objects through the visual field. Movement Perception,Perception, Motion,Perception, Movement
D009474 Neurons The basic cellular units of nervous tissue. Each neuron consists of a body, an axon, and dendrites. Their purpose is to receive, conduct, and transmit impulses in the NERVOUS SYSTEM. Nerve Cells,Cell, Nerve,Cells, Nerve,Nerve Cell,Neuron
D009476 Neurons, Efferent Neurons which send impulses peripherally to activate muscles or secretory cells. Efferent Neurons,Efferent Neuron,Neuron, Efferent
D010775 Photic Stimulation Investigative technique commonly used during ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHY in which a series of bright light flashes or visual patterns are used to elicit brain activity. Stimulation, Photic,Visual Stimulation,Photic Stimulations,Stimulation, Visual,Stimulations, Photic,Stimulations, Visual,Visual Stimulations
D002024 Bufo marinus A species of the true toads, Bufonidae, becoming fairly common in the southern United States and almost pantropical. The secretions from the skin glands of this species are very toxic to animals. Rhinella marina,Toad, Giant,Toad, Marine,Giant Toad,Giant Toads,Marine Toad,Marine Toads,Toads, Giant,Toads, Marine
D004027 Diencephalon The paired caudal parts of the PROSENCEPHALON from which the THALAMUS; HYPOTHALAMUS; EPITHALAMUS; and SUBTHALAMUS are derived. Interbrain,Interbrains
D004558 Electric Stimulation Use of electric potential or currents to elicit biological responses. Stimulation, Electric,Electrical Stimulation,Electric Stimulations,Electrical Stimulations,Stimulation, Electrical,Stimulations, Electric,Stimulations, Electrical
D004594 Electrophysiology The study of the generation and behavior of electrical charges in living organisms particularly the nervous system and the effects of electricity on living organisms.
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D017072 Neostriatum The phylogenetically newer part of the CORPUS STRIATUM consisting of the CAUDATE NUCLEUS and PUTAMEN. It is often called simply the striatum.

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