Biomaterial Database

Visual discrimination of flux-equated figures by cats with brain lesions. 1975

S W Alder, and T H Meikle

Cats with various brain lesions were compared in their abilities to learn or relearn for food reward to a strict performance criterion a simple dark--light discrimination and 3 sets of discriminations between pairs of triangle equated for overall luminous flux. The results revealed a spectrum of deficits in visual learning by cats with different lesions and indicate: (1) cats with bilateral lesions of the superior colliculus-pretectum can learn dark-light and geometric figure discriminations in approximately the same number of training trials as unoperated cats or as cats with bilateral lesions of the lateral-posterolateral and splenial gyri; (2) cats with bilateral lesions of the superior colliculus-pretectum can learn to discriminate from a distance between geometric figures equated for overall luminous flux; (3) cats with bilateral lesions of the suprasylvian and ectosylvian gyri in addition to the lateral-posterolateral and splenial gyri require more training to learn both types of visual discriminations than unoperated cats or cats with lesions either of the superior colliculus-pretectum or of the lateral-posterolateral and splenial gyri; (4) cats require either an intact superior colliculus-pretectum or intact lateral-posterolateral and splenial gyri in order to discriminate between geometric figures; (5) cats with bilateral lesions of the posterior two-thirds--three-fourths of the neocortex and most of the superior colliculus-pretectum can learn a simple dark-light discrimination after prolonged training.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007839	Functional Laterality	Behavioral manifestations of cerebral dominance in which there is preferential use and superior functioning of either the left or the right side, as in the preferred use of the right hand or right foot.	Ambidexterity,Behavioral Laterality,Handedness,Laterality of Motor Control,Mirror Writing,Laterality, Behavioral,Laterality, Functional,Mirror Writings,Motor Control Laterality,Writing, Mirror,Writings, Mirror
D008027	Light	That portion of the electromagnetic spectrum in the visible, ultraviolet, and infrared range.	Light, Visible,Photoradiation,Radiation, Visible,Visible Radiation,Photoradiations,Radiations, Visible,Visible Light,Visible Radiations
D008297	Male		Males
D008636	Mesencephalon	The middle of the three primitive cerebral vesicles of the embryonic brain. Without further subdivision, midbrain develops into a short, constricted portion connecting the PONS and the DIENCEPHALON. Midbrain contains two major parts, the dorsal TECTUM MESENCEPHALI and the ventral TEGMENTUM MESENCEPHALI, housing components of auditory, visual, and other sensorimoter systems.	Midbrain,Mesencephalons,Midbrains
D001921	Brain	The part of CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM that is contained within the skull (CRANIUM). Arising from the NEURAL TUBE, the embryonic brain is comprised of three major parts including PROSENCEPHALON (the forebrain); MESENCEPHALON (the midbrain); and RHOMBENCEPHALON (the hindbrain). The developed brain consists of CEREBRUM; CEREBELLUM; and other structures in the BRAIN STEM.	Encephalon
D001931	Brain Mapping	Imaging techniques used to colocalize sites of brain functions or physiological activity with brain structures.	Brain Electrical Activity Mapping,Functional Cerebral Localization,Topographic Brain Mapping,Brain Mapping, Topographic,Functional Cerebral Localizations,Mapping, Brain,Mapping, Topographic Brain
D002415	Cats	The domestic cat, Felis catus, of the carnivore family FELIDAE, comprising over 30 different breeds. The domestic cat is descended primarily from the wild cat of Africa and extreme southwestern Asia. Though probably present in towns in Palestine as long ago as 7000 years, actual domestication occurred in Egypt about 4000 years ago. (From Walker's Mammals of the World, 6th ed, p801)	Felis catus,Felis domesticus,Domestic Cats,Felis domestica,Felis sylvestris catus,Cat,Cat, Domestic,Cats, Domestic,Domestic Cat
D002540	Cerebral Cortex	The thin layer of GRAY MATTER on the surface of the CEREBRAL HEMISPHERES that develops from the TELENCEPHALON and folds into gyri and sulci. It reaches its highest development in humans and is responsible for intellectual faculties and higher mental functions.	Allocortex,Archipallium,Cortex Cerebri,Cortical Plate,Paleocortex,Periallocortex,Allocortices,Archipalliums,Cerebral Cortices,Cortex Cerebrus,Cortex, Cerebral,Cortical Plates,Paleocortices,Periallocortices,Plate, Cortical
D003624	Darkness	The absence of light.	Darknesses
D004192	Discrimination, Psychological	Differential response to different stimuli.	Discrimination, Psychology,Psychological Discrimination