Name
Abstract | ||
|---|---|---|
The pinwheel-like arrangement of iso-orientation domains around orientation centers is a ubiquitous structural element of orientation preference maps in primary visual cortex. Here we investigate how activity-dependent mechanisms constrain the way in which orientation centers can form during visual development. We consider the dynamics of a large class of models for the activity-dependent self-organization of orientation preference maps. We prove for this class of models that the density of orientation centers which proliferate as orientation selectivity arises from an unselective state exhibits a universal lower bound. At least /2 pinwheels must form initially, where d is the characteristic wavelength of iso-orientation domains. Due to topological constraints the density of orientation centers can only change by discrete creation and annihilation events. Consequently densities lower than /2 must develop through an initial overproduction and subsequent annihilation of pinwheels. Monitoring the density of orientation centers during development therefore offers a powerful novel approach to test whether orientation preference arises by activity-dependent mechanisms or is genetically predetermined. |
Year | DOI | Venue |
|---|---|---|
1997 | 10.1007/BFb0020155 | ICANN |
Keywords | Field | DocType |
visual development,genetics,lower bound,self organization | Computer vision,Topology,Discrete mathematics,Visual cortex,Computer science,Upper and lower bounds,Artificial intelligence | Conference |
ISBN | Citations | PageRank |
3-540-63631-5 | 0 | 0.34 |
References | Authors | |
2 | 2 | |
Name | Order | Citations | PageRank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fred Wolf | 1 | 72 | 9.41 |
| Theo Geisel | 2 | 314 | 40.09 |