Comparison of different models of orientation selectivity based on distinct intracortical inhibition rules

Aim of this work is to present simple models of orientation selectivity in the visual cortex, which do not require massive computational effort. Three different models are compared, in order to gain deeper insight into the structure of cortical circuits generating inhibitory signals. All models represent a single hypercolumn. They differ as to the arrangement of inhibitory connections: in the first ("antiphase inhibition model") inhibition is in phase opposition with excitation, but with a similar orientation tuning; in the second ("in-phase inhibition model"), inhibition is in phase with excitation, but with larger orientation tuning. In these two models the orientation width of inhibition increases with contrast. Finally, a third model ("center-surround model") assumes that inhibition comes from the same cells providing excitation, hence the inhibition tuning is contrast-independent. All models, with suitable values of the intracortical synapse parameters, are able to mimic experimental results in the literature. A few differences are evident between the "center-surround model" and the other two, especially as to the dependence of cortical cell response on spatial frequency. The models can represent practical tools to test hypotheses on the disposition of cortical synapses avoiding massive computational efforts.