title: Virtual Retina: a biological retina model and simulator, with contrast gain control.
abstract: We propose a new retina simulation software, called Virtual Retina, which transforms a video into spike trains. Our goal is twofold: Allow large scale simulations (up to 100,000 neurons) in reasonable processing times and keep a strong biological plausibility, taking into account implementation constraints. The underlying model includes a linear model of filtering in the Outer Plexiform Layer, a shunting feedback at the level of bipolar cells accounting for rapid contrast gain control, and a spike generation process modeling ganglion cells. We prove the pertinence of our software by reproducing several experimental measurements from single ganglion cells such as cat X and Y cells. This software will be an evolutionary tool for neuroscientists that need realistic large-scale input spike trains in subsequent treatments, and for educational purposes.
authors.affiliation: Odyssée Project Team (INRIA/ENPC/ENS), INRIA, Sophia-Antipolis, 2004 Route des Lucioles, 06902 Sophia Antipolis, France. Adrien.Wohrer@inria.fr
authors.forename: Adrien
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wohrer
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kornprobst
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials; D000465:Algorithms; D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D003198:Computer Simulation; D015350:Contrast Sensitivity; D016014:Linear Models; D008959:Models, Neurological; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D012160:Retina / Q000502:physiology*; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000502:physiology; D012984:Software; D014741:Video Recording; D014785:Vision, Ocular / Q000502:physiology