Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

The Role of Ion Channels in Neuronal Computation01:19

The Role of Ion Channels in Neuronal Computation

A postsynaptic neuron usually receives numerous impulses from several other presynaptic neurons. The axon hillock of the postsynaptic neuron integrates all these signals and determines the likelihood of firing an action potential.
Sometimes a single EPSP is strong enough to induce an action potential in the postsynaptic neuron. However, multiple presynaptic inputs must often create EPSPs around the same time for the postsynaptic neuron to be sufficiently depolarized to fire an action potential.
Neurons as Communicators of the Brain01:22

Neurons as Communicators of the Brain

Neurons, the fundamental units of the brain and nervous system, function as the primary transmitters of information throughout the body. Their ability to communicate through electrical and chemical signals is vital for every bodily function, from regulating the heartbeat to processing complex thoughts. Each neuron has three main components: the cell body (soma), dendrites, and an axon, each specialized to facilitate swift and efficient neural communication.
Cell Body
The cell body, also known...
Neuronal Communication01:28

Neuronal Communication

Neurons, the fundamental units of the brain and nervous system, communicate through complex electrochemical signals that underpin all cognitive and bodily functions. This communication is primarily facilitated by a process involving the generation and propagation of an action potential along the axon of the neuron. When the internal electrical charge of a neuron surpasses a certain threshold, an action potential is triggered. This rapid change in voltage travels swiftly along the axon to the...
Perceiving Loudness, Pitch, and Location01:21

Perceiving Loudness, Pitch, and Location

The human brain perceives pitch through two primary mechanisms reflected in place theory and frequency theory. Each mechanism describes how sound waves are interpreted as specific pitches by the brain, offering insights into the intricate processes of auditory perception.
Place theory, or place coding, suggests that different pitches are heard because various sound waves activate specific locations along the cochlea's basilar membrane. The brain determines the pitch of a sound by identifying...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

[Retinal and Cortical Activation by Electrical Stimulation with Retina Implants].

Klinische Monatsblatter fur Augenheilkundeยท2016
Same author

Modulation of synaptic transmission by adenosine in layer 2/3 of the rat visual cortex in vitro.

Neuroscienceยท2013
Same author

[A new diagnostic schedule and reliable treatment plan for traumatic optic nerve lesions].

Mund-, Kiefer- und Gesichtschirurgie : MKGยท2013
Same author

Visualization of axonal degeneration after optic nerve lesion in rat by immunohistochemical labelling for myelin basic protein (MBP).

Restorative neurology and neuroscienceยท2011
Same author

Increased transneuronal excitation of the cat lateral geniculate nucleus after acute deafferentation.

Brain researchยท2011
Same author

Metaplasticity of horizontal connections in the vicinity of focal laser lesions in rat visual cortex.

The Journal of physiologyยท2010

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 13, 2026

Induction of an Isoelectric Brain State to Investigate the Impact of Endogenous Synaptic Activity on Neuronal Excitability In Vivo
10:19

Induction of an Isoelectric Brain State to Investigate the Impact of Endogenous Synaptic Activity on Neuronal Excitability In Vivo

Published on: March 31, 2016

Neuroscience. Noise makes sense in neuronal computing.

M Volgushev1, U T Eysel

  • 1Department of Neurophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ruhr-University Bochum, D-44780 Bochum, Germany. eysel@neurop.ruhr-uni-bochum.de

Science (New York, N.Y.)
|February 24, 2001
PubMed
Summary

Neurons in the visual cortex maintain orientation sensitivity despite contrast changes. This is achieved by adding noise to membrane potential, enabling responses to weak visual signals.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Visual Processing
  • Computational Neuroscience

Background:

  • The primary visual cortex (V1) processes visual information, converting light signals into neural action potentials.
  • Neurons in V1 encode stimulus features like contrast and orientation.
  • Traditionally, it was understood that neuronal responses to orientation were dependent on stimulus contrast.

Discussion:

  • A recent study reveals that visual cortex neurons can maintain orientation selectivity irrespective of stimulus contrast.
  • This phenomenon is explained by the addition of noise to the neuronal membrane potential.
  • This stochasticity allows neurons to reliably fire even for weak stimuli at low contrast levels.

Key Insights:

  • Neuronal noise is not merely a byproduct but plays a functional role in visual processing.

More Related Videos

How to Calculate and Validate Inter-brain Synchronization in a fNIRS Hyperscanning Study
05:33

How to Calculate and Validate Inter-brain Synchronization in a fNIRS Hyperscanning Study

Published on: September 8, 2021

Religious Chanting and Self-Related Brain Regions: A Multi-Modal Neuroimaging Study
05:05

Religious Chanting and Self-Related Brain Regions: A Multi-Modal Neuroimaging Study

Published on: May 31, 2024

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 13, 2026

Induction of an Isoelectric Brain State to Investigate the Impact of Endogenous Synaptic Activity on Neuronal Excitability In Vivo
10:19

Induction of an Isoelectric Brain State to Investigate the Impact of Endogenous Synaptic Activity on Neuronal Excitability In Vivo

Published on: March 31, 2016

How to Calculate and Validate Inter-brain Synchronization in a fNIRS Hyperscanning Study
05:33

How to Calculate and Validate Inter-brain Synchronization in a fNIRS Hyperscanning Study

Published on: September 8, 2021

Religious Chanting and Self-Related Brain Regions: A Multi-Modal Neuroimaging Study
05:05

Religious Chanting and Self-Related Brain Regions: A Multi-Modal Neuroimaging Study

Published on: May 31, 2024

  • The contrast-invariant orientation sensitivity enhances the robustness of visual information transmission.
  • This mechanism ensures reliable perception of object orientation across varying lighting conditions.

    • Outlook:

    • Further research could explore the precise biophysical mechanisms generating this membrane potential noise.
    • Investigating how this noise mechanism is implemented across different brain regions could yield new insights.
    • Understanding this process may inform the development of more sophisticated artificial vision systems.