Institute of Neuroscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; Interdisciplinary Institute of Neuroscience and Technology, Qiushi Academy for Advanced Studies, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
Heng Ma
State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
Shude Zhu
Institute of Neuroscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
Peichao Li
Institute of Neuroscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
Haoran Xu
Institute of Neuroscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
Yang Fang
Institute of Neuroscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
Ming Chen
Institute of Neuroscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
Chao Han
Institute of Neuroscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
Chen Fang
State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
Xingya Cai
State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
Kun Yan
State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
Haidong D. Lu
State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; Interdisciplinary Institute of Neuroscience and Technology, Qiushi Academy for Advanced Studies, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China; Corresponding author
Summary: In the primate visual system, direction-selective (DS) neurons are critical for visual motion perception. While DS neurons in the dorsal visual pathway have been well characterized, the response properties of DS neurons in other major visual areas are largely unexplored. Recent optical imaging studies in monkey visual cortex area 2 (V2) revealed clusters of DS neurons. This imaging method facilitates targeted recordings from these neurons. Using optical imaging and single-cell recording, we characterized detailed response properties of DS neurons in macaque V2. Compared with DS neurons in the dorsal areas (e.g., middle temporal area [MT]), V2 DS neurons have a smaller receptive field and a stronger antagonistic surround. They do not code speed or plaid motion but are sensitive to motion contrast. Our results suggest that V2 DS neurons play an important role in figure-ground segregation. The clusters of V2 DS neurons are likely specialized functional systems for detecting motion contrast. : Direction-selective (DS) neurons are widely distributed in the primate visual system. Hu et al. examined visual responses of DS neurons in the second largest visual area (V2) in macaque monkeys and demonstrate distinctive response properties of these neurons compared with DS neurons in the well-studied traditional motion area MT. Keywords: macaque, V2, direction selectivity, RF surround, motion contrast
