Columns, slabs and pinwheels
Article Abstract:
How the outer layer of the brain, the cerebral cortex is organized into cell columns, has intrigued neurobiologists for over 30 years. There are several models for their development, and Wolf And Geisel argue that they are subject symmetry principles. They assume that columns with similar orientation preference are usually a certain distance apart, and that the pattern arises from several random factors, with Gaussian statistics applying. Such mathematical approaches are common in physics, but but not in biology.
Publication Name: Nature
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0028-0836
Year: 1998
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In the mind's eye of the beholder
Article Abstract:
Color may be considered an objective phenonemon, but its perception involves complex neural computations. Cottaris and De Valois have studied the contribution of neural circuits located in the brain's primary visual cortex to the brain's ability to construct colors. The image processing carried out by the primary visual cortex is more complex than first thought. Visual cortical cells can be understood in terms of dynamic systems, a more helpful approach than seeing them as static receptive fields.
Publication Name: Nature
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0028-0836
Year: 1998
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The bee's needs
Article Abstract:
Macroscopic behavior, reinforcement, artificial neural networks and certain phenomena of neuronal physiology can be used to describe learning strategies adopted by various animals and insects. Computer simulations have been used to successfully simulate the foraging patterns of bumblebees based on this theory. Application of robots to study the learning behavior of the animals is discussed.
Publication Name: Nature
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0028-0836
Year: 1995
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