Objective The aim of the proposal is to study the functional role of a number of connections of area 17 of the cat visual cortex. Local circuit interactions will be studied by inactivating small regions of cortex with iontophoretic injections of GABA and studying orientation and direction selectivities in neighbouring cells. The synaptic and morphological bases of these interactions will be examined using in vivo and vitro preparations for intracellular recording and anatomical methods. Interactions between areas 17 and 18 in the cat will also be studied using similar methods. Cross-correlation between neuronal activities in these two areas and electrical stimulation will be used to identify inteconnected neurons. Comparisons of their receptive field properties will reveal whether efficient coric-cortical connections link neurons with similar functional characteristics. A second project will consist in inactivating area 18 while recording from neurons in area 17 in order to determine the functional contribution of this set of afferents to the receptive field properties of are 17 neurons. Finally, an in vitro preparation will be developped in order to study the synaptic effects of the interconnections between areas 17 and 18 on the intracellularly recorded membrane potentials of neurons in area 17. Another set of projects are aimed at understanding the functional role of the cortico-geniculate feedback. Extracellular electrophysiological experiments will be performed in order to characterize the receptive field properties of cortical cells involved in the corticogeniculate feedback. Reversible inactivation of area 17 will be used to reveal the functional contribution of this pathway on the response properties of LGN cells. Finally the synaptic and neurotransmitter mechanisms involved in this pathway will be studied by intracellular recordings and pharmacological techniques. Fields of science medical and health sciencesbasic medicineanatomy and morphologymedical and health sciencesbasic medicinephysiologymedical and health sciencesbasic medicinepharmacology and pharmacy Programme(s) FP2-SCIENCE - Programme plan (EEC) to stimulate the international cooperation and interchange needed by European research scientists (SCIENCE), 1988-1992 Topic(s) Data not available Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinator INSTITUT NATIONAL DE LA SANTE ET DE LA RECHERCHE MEDICALE EU contribution No data Address Rue de Tolbiac, 101 75654 PARIS France See on map Total cost No data Participants (3) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all Birkbeck College United Kingdom EU contribution No data Address Malet Street WC1E 7HU London See on map Total cost No data PHILIPPS UNIVERSITAET MARBURG Germany EU contribution No data Address Biegenstrasse 10 MARBURG See on map Links Website Opens in new window Total cost No data RUHR-UNIVERSITY BOCHUM Germany EU contribution No data Address Universitaetsstrasse 150 44780 BOCHUM See on map Total cost No data