PSYC 211 Lecture Notes - Lecture 15: Receptive Field, Retina, Magnocellular Cell
14 Jun 2016
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To find a receptive field, the investigator can shine light in various locations while recording from a neuron. If the light from a particular spot excites the neuron then that location is part of the neurons excitatory receptive field (on firing) If the light inhibits activity, the location is in an inhibitory receptive field (off firing) On and off firing: neurons respond with either on firing or off firing depending on the location of the spot of light in the receptive field o center and the surround have contrasting effects. Seeing edges (the perception of contrast: a visual edge is a place where two different areas of a visual image meet. This is known as lateral inhibition because it spreads laterally across an array of receptors. The amount of lateral inhibition produced by a receptor is greatest when it is most intensely illuminated, and it has its greatest effect on its immediate neighbours.
