How do visual neurons respond in the real world?

Curr Opin Neurobiol. 2001 Aug;11(4):437-42. doi: 10.1016/s0959-4388(00)00231-2.

Abstract

Natural visual stimuli have been reported to evoke neural responses with brief, intense firing events. This has important implications for how visual information is encoded. A recent experiment measured the responses of visual neurons in the natural environment, circumventing many limitations of laboratory simulations while still retaining tight experimental control. Under these conditions, neurons fired intensely at precise, discrete times, validating that this firing regime is relevant to natural vision.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Environment
  • Nature
  • Neurons, Afferent / physiology*
  • Vision, Ocular / physiology*