Equalization and decorrelation in primary visual cortex

J Neurophysiol. 2014 Aug 1;112(3):501-3. doi: 10.1152/jn.00521.2013. Epub 2014 Feb 26.

Abstract

There are many theories on the purpose of neural adaptation, but evidence remains elusive. Here, we discuss the recent work by Benucci et al. (Nat Neurosci 16: 724-729, 2013), who measured for the first time the immediate effects of adaptation on the overall activity of a neuronal population. These measurements confirm two long-standing hypotheses about the purpose of adaptation, namely that adaptation counteracts biases in the statistics of the environment, and that it maintains decorrelation in neuronal stimulus selectivity.

Keywords: adaptation; decorrelation; equalization; visual cortex.

Publication types

  • Comment

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Physiological / physiology*
  • Adaptation, Psychological / physiology*
  • Animals
  • Female
  • Homeostasis / physiology*
  • Neurons / physiology*
  • Visual Cortex / physiology*