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1National Vision Research Institute of Australia, Cnr Keppel and Cardigan Streets, Carlton, VIC 3053, Australia2Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia3Discipline of Physiology, the University of Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia4Discipline of Anatomy and Histology, the University of Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
The parvocellular (PC) division of the afferent visual pathway is considered to carry neuronal signals which underlie the red–green dimension of colour vision as well as high-resolution spatial vision. In order to understand the origin of these signals, and the way in which they are combined, the responses of PC cells in dichromatic (‘red–green colour-blind’) and trichromatic marmosets were compared. Visual stimuli included coloured and achromatic gratings, and spatially uniform red and green lights presented at varying temporal phases and frequencies.
The sensitivity of PC cells to red–green chromatic modulation was found to depend primarily on the spectral separation between the medium- and long-wavelength-sensitive cone pigments (20 or 7 nm) in the two trichromatic marmoset phenotypes studied. The temporal frequency dependence of chromatic sensitivity was consistent with centre–surround interactions. Some evidence for chromatic selectivity was seen in peripheral PC cells. The receptive field dimensions of parvocellular cells were similar in dichromatic and trichromatic animals, but the achromatic contrast sensitivity of cells was slightly higher (by about 30%) in dichromats than in trichromats. These data support the hypothesis that the primary role of the PC is to transmit high-acuity spatial signals, with red–green opponent signals appearing as an additional response dimension in trichromatic animals.
(Received 13 November 2003;
accepted after revision 24 March 2004;
first published online 26 March 2004)
Corresponding author P. R. Martin: National Vision Research Institute of Australia, Cnr Keppel and Cardigan Streets, Carlton, VIC 3053, Australia. Email: prmartin{at}unimelb.edu.au
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