title: Reprogramming of orientation columns in visual cortex: a domino effect.
abstract: Cortical organization rests upon the fundamental principle that neurons sharing similar properties are co-located. In the visual cortex, neurons are organized into orientation columns. In a column, most neurons respond optimally to the same axis of an oriented edge, that is, the preferred orientation. This orientation selectivity is believed to be absolute in adulthood. However, in a fully mature brain, it has been established that neurons change their selectivity following sensory experience or visual adaptation. Here, we show that after applying an adapter away from the tested cells, neurons whose receptive fields were located remotely from the adapted site also exhibit a novel selectivity in spite of the fact that they were not adapted. These results indicate a robust reconfiguration and remapping of the orientation domains with respect to each other thus removing the possibility of an orientation hole in the new hypercolumn. These data suggest that orientation columns transcend anatomy, and are almost strictly functionally dynamic.
authors: 1] Département de Sciences Biologiques, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada, H3C 3J7 [2] Neurosciences Computationnelles et Traitement Intelligent des Signaux (NECOTIS, Département de Génie Électrique et Génie Informatique, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada, J1K 2R1).
authors: Lyes
authors: L
authors: Bachatene
authors: 1] Département de Sciences Biologiques, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada, H3C 3J7 [2] Neurosciences Computationnelles et Traitement Intelligent des Signaux (NECOTIS, Département de Génie Électrique et Génie Informatique, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada, J1K 2R1).
authors: Vishal
authors: V
authors: Bharmauria
authors: 1] Département de Sciences Biologiques, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada, H3C 3J7 [2] Neurosciences Computationnelles et Traitement Intelligent des Signaux (NECOTIS, Département de Génie Électrique et Génie Informatique, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada, J1K 2R1).
authors: Sarah
authors: S
authors: Cattan
authors: 1] Département de Sciences Biologiques, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada, H3C 3J7 [2] Neurosciences Computationnelles et Traitement Intelligent des Signaux (NECOTIS, Département de Génie Électrique et Génie Informatique, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada, J1K 2R1).
authors: Jean
authors: J
authors: Rouat
authors: 1] Département de Sciences Biologiques, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada, H3C 3J7 [2] Neurosciences Computationnelles et Traitement Intelligent des Signaux (NECOTIS, Département de Génie Électrique et Génie Informatique, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada, J1K 2R1).
authors: Stéphane
authors: S
authors: Molotchnikoff
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons; D009949:Orientation; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D014793:Visual Cortex / Q000502:physiology*