Unique spatial integration in mouse primary visual cortex and higher visual areas

Abstract

Neurons in the visual system integrate over a wide range of spatial scales. This diversity is thought to enable both local and global computations. To understand how spatial information is encoded across the mouse visual system, we use two-photon imaging to measure receptive fields in primary visual cortex (V1) and three downstream higher visual areas (HVAs): LM (lateromedial), AL (anterolateral) and PM (posteromedial). We find significantly larger receptive field sizes and less surround suppression in PM than in V1 or the other HVAs. Unlike other visual features studied in this system, specialization of spatial integration in PM cannot be explained by specific projections from V1 to the HVAs. Instead, our data suggests that distinct connectivity within PM may support the areas unique ability to encode global features of the visual scene, whereas V1, LM and AL may be more specialized for processing local features.