The gamma slideshow: object-based perceptual cycles in a model of the visual cortex.

Frontiers in Human Neuroscience

Rufin VanRullen²  Thomas Miconi² 

[1] CNRS, UMR 5549, Faculté de Médecine de Rangueil;Université Paul Sabatier;

关键词: gamma oscillations;    feedback inhibition;    Computer Model;    image segmentation;    Perceptual cycles;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fnhum.2010.00205

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

While recent studies have shed light on the mechanisms that generate gamma (>40Hz) oscillations, the functional role of these oscillations (if any) is still debated.Here we suggest that the purported mechanism of gamma oscillations (feedback inhibition from local interneurons), coupled with lateral connections implementing Gestalt principles of object integration, naturally leads to a decomposition of the visual input into object-based perceptual cycles, in which neuron populations representing different objects within the scene will tend to fire at successive cycles of the local gamma oscillation. We describe a simple model of V1 in which such perceptual cycles emerge automatically from the interaction between lateral excitatory connections (linking oriented cells falling along a continuous contour) and fast feedback inhibition (implementing competitive firing and gamma oscillations). Despite its extreme simplicity, the model spontaneously gives rise to perceptual cycles even when faced with natural images. The robustness of the system to parameter variation and to image complexity, together with the paucity of assumptions built in the model, support the hypothesis that perceptual cycles occur in natural vision.

【 授权许可】

Unknown