A theory for the acquisition and loss of neuron specificity in visual cortex

We assume that between lateral geniculate and visual cortical cells there exist labile synapses that modify themselves in a new fashion called threshold passive modification and in addition, non-labile synapses that contain permanent information. In the theory which results there is an increase in the specificity of response of a cortical cell when it is exposed to stimuli due to normal patterned visual experience. Non-patterned input, such as might be expected when an animal is dark-reared or raised with eyelids sutured, results in a loss of specificity, with details depending on whether noise to labile and non-labile junctions is correlated. Specificity can sometimes be regained, however, with a return of input due to patterned vision. We propose that this provides a possible explanation of experimental results obtained by Imbert and Buisseret (1975); Blakemore and Van Sluyters (1975); Buisseret and Imbert (1976); and Frégnac and Imbert (1977, 1978).