David Fitzpatrick
James B. Duke Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Medicine
Research in the Fitzpatrick lab is focused on understanding the functional organization and development of circuits in primary visual cortex, an important component of the vast network of neural centers that are involved in processing visual information and the first site along the visual pathway where neurons exhibit selectivity for stimulus attributes such as the orientation of edges and the direction of motion of objects. Our research combines optical imaging, intracellular recording and neural tracing techniques to explore how stimulus features are represented in the activity of identified neural circuits. Our work on the development of visual cortex suggests that normal sensory experience is required to complete the maturation of properties that are first established by experience-independent mechanisms. In another series of experiments we are addressing how feedforward and recurrent circuits contribute to the orientation selective responses of individual neurons. Our results indicate a remarkable specificity in the spatial arrangement of the axonal arbors associated with these two systems, a specificity that imparts an axial bias to the way these neurons sample information from visual space both within and beyond their classical receptive field. In another set of experiments, we are exploring how different combinations of stimulus features such as orientation, direction of motion and speed are represented in the population response of visual cortical neurons. Contrary to the conventional view that activity patterns in visual cortex can be explained as the intersection between multiple stimulus feature maps, our results indicate that population activity is best explained as a single spatiotemporal transform in which orientation, direction of motion and speed are combined. Current efforts are directed at understanding the temporal dynamics of this spatiotemporal transform and the way in which it is altered by changes in luminance and contrast.
Current Appointments & Affiliations
- James B. Duke Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Medicine, Neurobiology, Basic Science Departments 2011
- Professor Emeritus of Neurobiology, Neurobiology, Basic Science Departments 2011
Contact Information
- 427C Bryan Res Bldg, Durham, NC 27710
- Box 3209 Med Ctr, Durham, NC 27710
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fitzpat@neuro.duke.edu
(919) 684-5385
- Background
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Education, Training, & Certifications
- Ph.D., Duke University 1982
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Previous Appointments & Affiliations
- Director of the Duke Institute for Brain Sciences, Duke Institute for Brain Sciences, University Institutes and Centers 2007 - 2011
- Professor of Neurobiology, Neurobiology, Basic Science Departments 1999 - 2010
- James B. Duke Distinguished Professor of Medicine, Neurobiology, Basic Science Departments 2009 - 2010
- Associate Professor of Neurobiology with Tenure, Neurobiology, Basic Science Departments 1992 - 1999
- Associate Professor of Neurobiology, Neurobiology, Basic Science Departments 1991 - 1992
- Assistant Research Professor of Psychology, Psychology & Neuroscience, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 1986 - 1990
- Recognition
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In the News
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APR 21, 2015 The Washington Post
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- Research
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Selected Grants
- Non-invasive Chemical Genetic Control of Neuronal Activity awarded by National Institutes of Health 2009 - 2014
- Functional Organization of Visual Cortex awarded by National Institutes of Health 1998 - 2011
- The Development of Direction Selectivity in Visual Cortex awarded by National Institutes of Health 1996 - 2011
- The role of short-range horizontal connections in cortical computation awarded by National Institutes of Health 2007 - 2010
- Functional Organization of S-Cone Input to V1 awarded by National Institutes of Health 2003 - 2006
- Processing of Contour Junctions in Area V1 awarded by National Institutes of Health 2004 - 2006
- Local Circuits and Direction Selectivity in Visual Cortex awarded by National Institutes of Health 1996 - 2002
- Functional Organization Of Visual Cortex awarded by National Institutes of Health 1997 - 1999
- Morphological Basis For Visual Sensation awarded by National Institutes of Health 1992 - 1994
- Structural Organization Of The Lateral Geniculate awarded by National Science Foundation 1986 - 1987
- Structural Organization Of The Lateral Geniculate awarded by National Science Foundation 1985 - 1987
- Development Of Tissue Preparation For Visual Cortex awarded by National Institutes of Health 1984 - 1985
- Publications & Artistic Works
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Selected Publications
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Academic Articles
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Mooser, François, William H. Bosking, and David Fitzpatrick. “A morphological basis for orientation tuning in primary visual cortex.” Nat Neurosci 7, no. 8 (August 2004): 872–79. https://doi.org/10.1038/nn1287.Full Text Link to Item
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Chisum, Heather J., and David Fitzpatrick. “The contribution of vertical and horizontal connections to the receptive field center and surround in V1.” Neural Netw 17, no. 5–6 (2004): 681–93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neunet.2004.05.002.Full Text Link to Item
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Basole, Amit, Leonard E. White, and David Fitzpatrick. “Mapping multiple features in the population response of visual cortex.” Nature 423, no. 6943 (June 26, 2003): 986–90. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature01721.Full Text Link to Item
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Chisum, Heather J., François Mooser, and David Fitzpatrick. “Emergent properties of layer 2/3 neurons reflect the collinear arrangement of horizontal connections in tree shrew visual cortex.” J Neurosci 23, no. 7 (April 1, 2003): 2947–60. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.23-07-02947.2003.Full Text Link to Item
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Bosking, William H., Justin C. Crowley, and David Fitzpatrick. “Spatial coding of position and orientation in primary visual cortex.” Nat Neurosci 5, no. 9 (September 2002): 874–82. https://doi.org/10.1038/nn908.Full Text Link to Item
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White, L. E., D. M. Coppola, and D. Fitzpatrick. “The contribution of sensory experience to the maturation of orientation selectivity in ferret visual cortex.” Nature 411, no. 6841 (June 28, 2001): 1049–52. https://doi.org/10.1038/35082568.Full Text Link to Item
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White, L. E., W. H. Bosking, and D. Fitzpatrick. “Consistent mapping of orientation preference across irregular functional domains in ferret visual cortex.” Vis Neurosci 18, no. 1 (2001): 65–76. https://doi.org/10.1017/s095252380118106x.Full Text Link to Item
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Valenzano, K. J., W. Miller, J. N. Kravitz, P. Samama, D. Fitzpatrick, and K. Seeley. “Development of a fluorescent ligand-binding assay using the AcroWell filter plate.” J Biomol Screen 5, no. 6 (December 2000): 455–61. https://doi.org/10.1177/108705710000500608.Full Text Link to Item
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Fitzpatrick, D. “Seeing beyond the receptive field in primary visual cortex.” Curr Opin Neurobiol 10, no. 4 (August 2000): 438–43. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0959-4388(00)00113-6.Full Text Link to Item
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Bosking, W. H., R. Kretz, M. L. Pucak, and D. Fitzpatrick. “Functional specificity of callosal connections in tree shrew striate cortex.” J Neurosci 20, no. 6 (March 15, 2000): 2346–59. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.20-06-02346.2000.Full Text Link to Item
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Fitzpatrick, D. “Cortical imaging: capturing the moment.” Curr Biol 10, no. 5 (March 9, 2000): R187–90. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0960-9822(00)00348-1.Full Text Link to Item
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White, L. E., W. H. Bosking, S. M. Williams, and D. Fitzpatrick. “Maps of central visual space in ferret V1 and V2 lack matching inputs from the two eyes.” J Neurosci 19, no. 16 (August 15, 1999): 7089–99. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.19-16-07089.1999.Full Text Link to Item
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Coppola, D. M., L. E. White, D. Fitzpatrick, and D. Purves. “Unequal representation of cardinal and oblique contours in ferret visual cortex.” Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 95, no. 5 (March 3, 1998): 2621–23. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.95.5.2621.Full Text Link to Item
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Bosking, W. H., Y. Zhang, B. Schofield, and D. Fitzpatrick. “Orientation selectivity and the arrangement of horizontal connections in tree shrew striate cortex.” J Neurosci 17, no. 6 (March 15, 1997): 2112–27. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.17-06-02112.1997.Full Text Link to Item
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Weliky, M., W. H. Bosking, and D. Fitzpatrick. “A systematic map of direction preference in primary visual cortex.” Nature 379, no. 6567 (February 22, 1996): 725–28. https://doi.org/10.1038/379725a0.Full Text Link to Item
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Usrey, W. M., and D. Fitzpatrick. “Specificity in the axonal connections of layer VI neurons in tree shrew striate cortex: evidence for distinct granular and supragranular systems.” J Neurosci 16, no. 3 (February 1, 1996): 1203–18. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.16-03-01203.1996.Full Text Link to Item
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Fitzpatrick, D. “The functional organization of local circuits in visual cortex: insights from the study of tree shrew striate cortex.” Cereb Cortex 6, no. 3 (1996): 329–41. https://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/6.3.329.Full Text Link to Item
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Weliky, M., K. Kandler, D. Fitzpatrick, and L. C. Katz. “Patterns of excitation and inhibition evoked by horizontal connections in visual cortex share a common relationship to orientation columns.” Neuron 15, no. 3 (September 1995): 541–52. https://doi.org/10.1016/0896-6273(95)90143-4.Full Text Link to Item
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Fitzpatrick, D., W. M. Usrey, B. R. Schofield, and G. Einstein. “The sublaminar organization of corticogeniculate neurons in layer 6 of macaque striate cortex.” Vis Neurosci 11, no. 2 (1994): 307–15. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0952523800001656.Full Text Link to Item
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Diamond, I. T., D. Fitzpatrick, and D. Schmechel. “Calcium binding proteins distinguish large and small cells of the ventral posterior and lateral geniculate nuclei of the prosimian galago and the tree shrew (Tupaia belangeri).” Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 90, no. 4 (February 15, 1993): 1425–29. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.90.4.1425.Full Text Link to Item
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Usrey, W. M., E. C. Muly, and D. Fitzpatrick. “Lateral geniculate projections to the superficial layers of visual cortex in the tree shrew.” J Comp Neurol 319, no. 1 (May 1, 1992): 159–71. https://doi.org/10.1002/cne.903190113.Full Text Link to Item
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Muly, E. C., and D. Fitzpatrick. “The morphological basis for binocular and ON/OFF convergence in tree shrew striate cortex.” J Neurosci 12, no. 4 (April 1992): 1319–34. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.12-04-01319.1992.Full Text Link to Item
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Diamond, I. T., D. Fitzpatrick, and M. Conley. “A projection from the parabigeminal nucleus to the pulvinar nucleus in Galago.” J Comp Neurol 316, no. 3 (February 15, 1992): 375–82. https://doi.org/10.1002/cne.903160308.Full Text Link to Item
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Diamond, I. T., M. Conley, D. Fitzpatrick, and D. Raczkowski. “Evidence for separate pathways within the tecto-geniculate projection in the tree shrew.” Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 88, no. 4 (February 15, 1991): 1315–19. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.88.4.1315.Full Text Link to Item
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Einstein, G., and D. Fitzpatrick. “Distribution and morphology of area 17 neurons that project to the cat's extrastriate cortex.” J Comp Neurol 303, no. 1 (January 1, 1991): 132–49. https://doi.org/10.1002/cne.903030112.Full Text Link to Item
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Raczkowski, D., and D. Fitzpatrick. “Terminal arbors of individual, physiologically identified geniculocortical axons in the tree shrew's striate cortex.” J Comp Neurol 302, no. 3 (December 15, 1990): 500–514. https://doi.org/10.1002/cne.903020307.Full Text Link to Item
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Fitzpatrick, D., and D. Raczkowski. “Innervation patterns of single physiologically identified geniculocortical axons in the striate cortex of the tree shrew.” Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 87, no. 1 (January 1990): 449–53. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.87.1.449.Full Text Link to Item
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Fitzpatrick, D., I. T. Diamond, and D. Raczkowski. “Cholinergic and monoaminergic innervation of the cat's thalamus: comparison of the lateral geniculate nucleus with other principal sensory nuclei.” J Comp Neurol 288, no. 4 (October 22, 1989): 647–75. https://doi.org/10.1002/cne.902880411.Full Text Link to Item
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Raczkowski, D., and D. Fitzpatrick. “Organization of cholinergic synapses in the cat's dorsal lateral geniculate and perigeniculate nuclei.” J Comp Neurol 288, no. 4 (October 22, 1989): 676–90. https://doi.org/10.1002/cne.902880412.Full Text Link to Item
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Hall, W. C., D. Fitzpatrick, L. L. Klatt, and D. Raczkowski. “Cholinergic innervation of the superior colliculus in the cat.” J Comp Neurol 287, no. 4 (September 22, 1989): 495–514. https://doi.org/10.1002/cne.902870408.Full Text Link to Item
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Conley, M., and D. Fitzpatrick. “Morphology of retinogeniculate axons in the macaque.” Vis Neurosci 2, no. 3 (1989): 287–96. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0952523800001206.Full Text Link to Item
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Fitzpatrick, D., M. Conley, G. Luppino, M. Matelli, and I. T. Diamond. “Cholinergic projections from the midbrain reticular formation and the parabigeminal nucleus to the lateral geniculate nucleus in the tree shrew.” J Comp Neurol 272, no. 1 (June 1, 1988): 43–67. https://doi.org/10.1002/cne.902720105.Full Text Link to Item
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Fitzpatrick, D., J. S. Lund, D. E. Schmechel, and A. C. Towles. “Distribution of GABAergic neurons and axon terminals in the macaque striate cortex.” J Comp Neurol 264, no. 1 (October 1, 1987): 73–91. https://doi.org/10.1002/cne.902640107.Full Text Link to Item
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Conley, M., D. Fitzpatrick, and E. A. Lachica. “Laminar asymmetry in the distribution of choline acetyltransferase-immunoreactive neurons in the retina of the tree shrew (Tupaia belangeri).” Brain Res 399, no. 2 (December 10, 1986): 332–38. https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-8993(86)91524-6.Full Text Link to Item
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Diamond, I. T., M. Conley, K. Itoh, and D. Fitzpatrick. “Laminar organization of geniculocortical projections in Galago senegalensis and Aotus trivirgatus.” J Comp Neurol 242, no. 4 (December 22, 1985): 584–610. https://doi.org/10.1002/cne.902420408.Full Text Link to Item
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Blasdel, G. G., J. S. Lund, and D. Fitzpatrick. “Intrinsic connections of macaque striate cortex: axonal projections of cells outside lamina 4C.” J Neurosci 5, no. 12 (December 1985): 3350–69. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.05-12-03350.1985.Full Text Link to Item
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Fitzpatrick, D., J. S. Lund, and G. G. Blasdel. “Intrinsic connections of macaque striate cortex: afferent and efferent connections of lamina 4C.” J Neurosci 5, no. 12 (December 1985): 3329–49. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.05-12-03329.1985.Full Text Link to Item
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Fitzpatrick, D., G. R. Penny, and D. E. Schmechel. “Glutamic acid decarboxylase-immunoreactive neurons and terminals in the lateral geniculate nucleus of the cat.” J Neurosci 4, no. 7 (July 1984): 1809–29. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.04-07-01809.1984.Full Text Link to Item
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Schmechel, D. E., B. G. Vickrey, D. Fitzpatrick, and R. P. Elde. “GABAergic neurons of mammalian cerebral cortex: widespread subclass defined by somatostatin content.” Neurosci Lett 47, no. 3 (June 29, 1984): 227–32. https://doi.org/10.1016/0304-3940(84)90518-4.Full Text Link to Item
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Blasdel, G. G., and D. Fitzpatrick. “Physiological organization of layer 4 in macaque striate cortex.” J Neurosci 4, no. 3 (March 1984): 880–95. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.04-03-00880.1984.Full Text Link to Item
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Rustioni, A., D. E. Schmechel, S. Cheema, and D. Fitzpatrick. “Glutamic acid decarboxylase-containing neurons in the dorsal column nuclei of the cat.” Somatosens Res 1, no. 4 (1984): 329–57. https://doi.org/10.3109/07367228409144554.Full Text Link to Item
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Conley, M., D. Fitzpatrick, and I. T. Diamond. “The laminar organization of the lateral geniculate body and the striate cortex in the tree shrew (Tupaia glis).” J Neurosci 4, no. 1 (January 1984): 171–97. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.04-01-00171.1984.Full Text Link to Item
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Penny, G. R., D. Fitzpatrick, D. E. Schmechel, and I. T. Diamond. “Glutamic acid decarboxylase-immunoreactive neurons and horseradish peroxidase-labeled projection neurons in the ventral posterior nucleus of the cat and Galago senegalensis.” J Neurosci 3, no. 9 (September 1983): 1868–87. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.03-09-01868.1983.Full Text Link to Item
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Fitzpatrick, D., S. Cheema, I. Merchenthaler, and A. Rustioni. “Improved visualization of neurons labeled with horseradish peroxidase: silver-intensification of the pyrocatechol/p-phenylenediamine reaction product.” J Neurosci Methods 8, no. 2 (June 1983): 161–69. https://doi.org/10.1016/0165-0270(83)90117-6.Full Text Link to Item
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Fitzpatrick, D., K. Itoh, and I. T. Diamond. “The laminar organization of the lateral geniculate body and the striate cortex in the squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus).” J Neurosci 3, no. 4 (April 1983): 673–702. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.03-04-00673.1983.Full Text Link to Item
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Fitzpatrick, D., and R. P. Johnson. “Enkephalin-like immunoreactivity in the mossy fiber pathway of the hippocampal formation of the tree shrew (Tupaia glis).” Neuroscience 6, no. 12 (1981): 2485–94. https://doi.org/10.1016/0306-4522(81)90094-4.Full Text Link to Item
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Fitzpatrick, D., and I. T. Diamond. “Distribution of acetylcholinesterase in the geniculo striate system of Galago senegalensis and Aotus trivirgatus: evidence for the origin of the reaction product in the lateral geniculate body.” J Comp Neurol 194, no. 4 (December 15, 1980): 703–19. https://doi.org/10.1002/cne.901940402.Full Text Link to Item
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Fitzpatrick, D., R. G. Carey, and I. T. Diamond. “The projection of the superior colliculus upon the lateral geniculate body in Tupaia glis and Galago senegalensis.” Brain Res 194, no. 2 (August 4, 1980): 494–99. https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-8993(80)91230-5.Full Text Link to Item
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Carey, R. G., D. Fitzpatrick, and I. T. Diamond. “Layer I of striate cortex of Tupaia glis and Galago senegalensis: projections from thalamus and claustrum revealed by retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase.” J Comp Neurol 186, no. 3 (August 1, 1979): 393–437. https://doi.org/10.1002/cne.901860306.Full Text Link to Item
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Fitzpatrick, D., and I. T. Diamond. “The laminar organisation of the lateral geniculate body in Galago senegalensis: a pair of layers identified by acetylcholinesterase activity.” Brain Res 170, no. 3 (July 20, 1979): 538–42. https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-8993(79)90971-5.Full Text Link to Item
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Carey, R. G., D. Fitzpatrick, and I. T. Diamond. “Thalamic projections to layer I of striate cortex shown by retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase.” Science 203, no. 4380 (February 9, 1979): 556–59. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.760205.Full Text Link to Item
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