The transfer of visual information across the corpus callosum: spatial and temporal properties in the cat.

1. The spatial and temporal characteristics of the visual information transmitted across the corpus callosum have been studied in normal cats by recording directly from the corpus callosum and in split-chiasm cats by means of visual evoked potentials (v.e.p.s) and single-unit recordings at the 17/18 border. 2. The modulation transfer functions (m.t.f.s) obtained by recording from the corpus callosum are comparable to the m.t.f.s evaluated by various techniques for the whole visual system of the cat. The spatial and temporal acuities, however, do not reach the values obtained behaviourally or estimated with cortical evoked potentials. 3. In split-chiasm cats, both v.e.p.s and single-unit recordings indicate that the contrast gain of the callosal pathway is considerably lower than the gain of the direct, geniculo-cortical system. Spatial and temporal acuities are lower for the callosal than for the direct system. 4. The same differences in contrast gain between the spatial m.t.f. obtained for the callosal and the direct system have been found in alert split-chiasm cats. 5. Our data suggest that the cross-talk between the hemispheres taking place across the corpus callosum is nearly abolished at low contrasts and high spatial and temporal frequencies.