Contrast adaptation in cat lateral geniculate nucleus and influence of corticothalamic feedback

Contrast adaptation is a basic property of visual information processing. However, important questions about contrast adaptation in the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) remain. For example, it is unclear whether the different information channels have the same or distinct contrast adaptation properties and mechanisms. It has been recognized that the visual system is not a one‐way ascending pathway, but also contains descending feedback projections. Although studies have explored the role of this feedback system, it is unclear whether corticothalamic feedback contributes to adaptation in the LGN. To investigate these questions, we studied contrast adaptation of LGN neurons in anesthetized and paralysed cats by measuring electrophysiological responses to visual test stimuli before and after adaptation induced by prolonged visual stimulation. After adaptation, contrast response functions were usually shifted towards higher contrasts, indicating decreased contrast gain, and the maximum response decreased. Also, contrast adaptation effects were stronger in Y‐cells than in X‐cells. Furthermore, adaptation effects were still observed in the LGN when the corticothalamic feedback was inactivated. Changes in the contrast gain of Y‐cells were diminished in the absence of feedback, while contrast gain was largely unchanged in X‐cells. Our observations confirm that contrast adaptation occurs in LGN neurons and furthermore demonstrate that Y‐cells show stronger adaptation effects than X‐cells. These results also provide an example of how corticothalamic feedback modulates contrast information processing distinctly in different information channels.