OFF-center ganglion cells are associated with which type of bipolar cells?

The association of OFF-center ganglion cells with OFF-center bipolar cells is based on the specific pathway of visual processing in the retina. OFF-center bipolar cells respond to decreases in light, leading to a hyperpolarization when exposed to illumination. These bipolar cells synapse directly with OFF-center ganglion cells, which in turn fire action potentials in response to a reduction in light intensity.

In this pathway, when light diminishes in a particular region of the visual field, OFF-center bipolar cells are activated, sending information about the light decrease to the OFF-center ganglion cells. This processing is crucial for contrast detection and helps the visual system identify edges and shapes based on light and dark patterns in the visual scene.

In contrast, ON-center bipolar cells, which would connect to ON-center ganglion cells, respond to increases in light, creating a different visual processing pathway. The role of amacrine and horizontal cells also differs, as they serve significant functions in modulating the signals between bipolar and ganglion cells as well as contributing to lateral inhibition, but they are not the direct synaptic partners to OFF-center ganglion cells in the context of this question.