Neither strong nor weak space constancy is coded in striate cortex

Journal/Book: Psychol Res Psychol Forsch. 1999; 62: 175 Fifth Ave, New York, NY 10010, USA. Springer Verlag. 261-265.

Abstract: Space constancy (the perception that the world remains stable despite eye movements) might be mediated by receptive fields with constant locations in the world rather than constant locations on the retina. In a strong form the hypothesis, receptive fields of single neurons would compensate for all eye movements, whereas in a weak form they would compensate only for the small movements of fixation that occur without retargeting. Early receptive field mapping confounded world-centered and retina-centered organizations by fixing the retina relative to the world. This paper links the strong and weak forms of constancy by relating previously isolated data, and illustrates the issues with a previously unpublished figure showing that striate receptive held have constant retinal locations. The first tests of space constancy in striate cortex contradicted the strong hypothesis; recent tests contradict the weak hypothesis, also. The results are consistent with modern theories of space constancy, differentiating between motor-oriented and perceptual functions of vision, and differentiating between constancy during pursuit and constancy across saccades.

Note: Article Bridgeman B, Univ Calif Santa Cruz, Dept Psychol, Santa Cruz,CA 95064 USA

Keyword(s): VISUAL RECEPTIVE-FIELDS; SACCADIC EYE-MOVEMENTS; PARIETAL CORTEX; NEURONS; FIXATION; MONKEYS; MOTION

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