J Neurosci Methods. 1986 Feb;15(4):269-80

Picture processing techniques applied to autoradiographic studies of visual cortex

Switkes E, Tootell RB, Silverman MS, De Valois R.

Abstract

Picture processing techniques are applied to 2-deoxyglucose autoradiographs of sections from striate cortex and to patterns resulting from staining these sections for cytochrome oxidase. This procedure allows computer identification of deoxyglucose active and inactive regions in the autoradiographs and cytochrome active and inactive regions in the stain patterns. Subsequently, the topographical relationship between these patterns can be quantitatively analyzed by means of overlap and density distribution measures and can be displayed using color enhanced graphics. The processing techniques have been applied in studies of the functional organization of visual cortex in primates. Computer graphic techniques have allowed implementation of split-field presentations of stimuli in deoxyglucose experiments. An application of this split-field technique for presenting multiple-stimuli to distinct parts of the visual field is described and an autoradiograph from a split-field experiment is shown.

PMID: 3007875