Modeling convergent ON and OFF pathways in the early visual system

For understanding the computation and function of single neurons in sensory systems, one needs to investigate how sensory stimuli are related to a neuron's response and which biological mechanisms underlie this relationship. Mathematical models of the stimulus-response relationship have proved...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biological cybernetics 2008-11, Vol.99 (4-5), p.263-278
Main Authors: Gollisch, Tim, Meister, Markus
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Bioinformatics
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Biomedicine
Biophysics
Complex Systems
Computer Appl. in Life Sciences
Cybernetics
Filters
Humans
LN model extension
Mathematical models
Models, Neurological
Multiple pathways
Neurobiology
Neurons
Neurosciences
ON-OFF ganglion cells
retina
Retinal Ganglion Cells - physiology
Review
Spike-triggered analysis
Visual Perception - physiology
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Summary:For understanding the computation and function of single neurons in sensory systems, one needs to investigate how sensory stimuli are related to a neuron's response and which biological mechanisms underlie this relationship. Mathematical models of the stimulus-response relationship have proved very useful in approaching these issues in a systematic, quantitative way. A starting point for many such analyses has been provided by phenomenological “linear-nonlinear” (LN) models, which comprise a linear filter followed by a static nonlinear transformation. The linear filter is often associated with the neuron's receptive field. However, the structure of the receptive field is generally a result of inputs from many presynaptic neurons, which may form parallel signal processing pathways. In the retina, for example, certain ganglion cells receive excitatory inputs from ON-type as well as OFF-type bipolar cells. Recent experiments have shown that the convergence of these pathways leads to intriguing response characteristics that cannot be captured by a single linear filter. One approach to adjust the LN model to the biological circuit structure is to use multiple parallel filters that capture ON and OFF bipolar inputs. Here, we review these new developments in modeling neuronal responses in the early visual system and provide details about one particular technique for obtaining the required sets of parallel filters from experimental data.
ISSN:0340-1200
1432-0770
DOI:10.1007/s00422-008-0252-y