The receptive field in V1: an unexpected result.

Abstract

The perception of human observers is modified by visual stimuli. I start with a brief description of the receptive fields of cells in the visual pathway of primates from the retina up to the primary visual cortex that is of how the electrical properties of these cells are driven by visual stimuli. Some recent evidence about contextual and direct responses of orientation selective cells in the primary visual cortex of monkeys to stimuli outside the receptive field is reviewed