Growth-related changes in the size of receptive field centers of retinal ganglion cells in goldfish

Abstract

Intraocular recordings were made from the retinal ganglion cells of small ( 140 mm) intact paralyzed, submerged goldfish to determine how the size of their receptive field centers is influenced by the 2.5-fold increase in retinal magnification factor which accompanies growth. The angular subtense of the centers was only slightly smaller in large than in small fish, corresponding to a greater than 2-fold increase in the center diameter as measured in micrometers on the retinal surface. This statistically significant increase suggests that the number of centers which overlap a given point on the retina remains approximately constant during growth. Other implications of this result are also discussed.