Simulation of dynamic receptive fields in primary visual cortex

A model network of spiking neurons with lateral connections was used to simulate short-term receptive field (RF) changes by removal of afferent input in the primary visual system. Several possible mechanisms for the dynamic RFs were explored and the simulation results were compared with experimental results obtained by Pettet and Gilbert [(1992) Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, U.S.A., 89, 8366-8370]. We found that appropriate input stimuli could induce a shift in the balance between modeled cortical lateral excitation and inhibition and in doing so cause RF expansion. Synaptic plasticity was neither necessary nor appropriate for short-term RF changes. An inhibition dominant network with neural adaptation successfully simulated Pettet and Gilbert's experiment of RF expansion and its reversibility induced by an "artificial scotoma". RF expansions induced by lesions were also explored with the model.