How Simple Cells Are Made in a Nonlinear Network Model of the Visual Cortex (original) (raw)

Simple cells in the striate cortex respond linearly to stimuli, despite the nonlinear inputs they receive from the LGN and the surrounding network. This paper presents a large-scale model of layer 4C␣ in the macaque visual cortex, demonstrating that simple cells can emerge from a nonlinear network through the cancellation of nonlinear LGN excitation by corticocortical inhibition, resulting in linearized responses. The findings offer insights into the mechanisms that allow for the existence of simple cells in the visual cortex, providing valuable predictions and implications for understanding visual processing.