A theory for the acquisition and loss of neuron specificity in visual cortex.
We assume that between lateral geniculate and visual cortical cells there exist labile synapses that modify themselves in a new fashion called threshold passive modification and in addition, non-labile synapses that contain permanent information. In the theory which results there is an increase in the specificity of response of a cortical cell when it is exposed to stimuli due to normal patterned visual experience. Non-patterned input, such as might be expected when an animal is dark-reared or raised with eyelids sutured, results in a loss of specificity, with details depending on whether noise to labile and non-labile junctions is correlated. Specificity can sometimes be regained, however, with a return of input due to patterned vision. We propose that this provides a possible explanation of experimental results obtained by Imbert and Buisseret (1975); Blakemore and Van Sluyters (1975); Buisseret and Imbert (1976); and Frégnac and Imbert (1977, 1978).
D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D002965:Classification; D004056:Differential Threshold; D005556:Form Perception; D005724:Ganglia / Q000502:physiology; D005829:Geniculate Bodies / Q000502:physiology; D007858:Learning; D008433:Mathematics; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009433:Neural Inhibition; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual; D012160:Retina / Q000502:physiology; D013045:Species Specificity; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology; D009435:Synaptic Transmission; D014785:Vision, Ocular / Q000502:physiology; D014793:Visual Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D014794:Visual Fields