Geometry of orientation preference map determines nonclassical receptive field properties

Abstract

We propose a simple mechanism for the nonclassical receptive field property of orientation contrast sensitivity. Our model includes the long-range lateral connections linking cell populations of similar orientation preference, and the dynamics of local microcircuits which introduce a differential interaction whose sign depends on the post- and presynaptic activation. We demonstrate that the geometry of an orientation preference map determines the positions of cells sensitive for orientation contrasts, and we propose a simple statistical method to check the predictions of our model for experimentally given maps.