Flexible Linking of Visual Features by Stimulus-Related Synchronizations of Model Neurons

Eckhorn, Reinhard; Dicke, Peter W.; Arndt, M.; Reitboeck, H. J.

doi:10.1007/978-1-4757-1281-0_22

Cited by 9 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…More precisely, neurones participating in the processing and representation of a visual object engage in a common synchronized state in response to stimulation by that object (Eckhorn, Bauer, Jordan, Brosch, Kruse, Munk, & Reitboeck 1988;Malsburg & Schneider, 1986;Reitboeck, 1983). This hypothesis attracted attention when stimulus-specific synchronized oscillations of 35-90 Hz were found in the visual cortex of anaesthetized cats (Eckhorn et al, 1988;Eckhorn, Dicke, Arndt, & Reitboeck, 1992;Engel, König, & Singer, 1991, 1991aGray, König, Engel, & Singer, 1989;) and awake monkeys (Eckhorn, Frien, Bauer, Woelbern, & Kehr, 1993;Frien, Eckhorn, Bauer, Woelbern, & Kehr, 1994;Frien, Eckhorn, & Reitboeck, 1996;Kreiter & Singer, 1992). (Definitions of "synchronization" and "coherence" in the context of the present article are given in the Appendix.…”

Section: Feature Bindingmentioning

confidence: 96%

Neural Mechanisms of Visual Feature Binding Investigated with Microelectrodes and Models

Eckhorn¹

1999

Visual Cognition

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A single object generally activates neurones in many visual cortical areas corresponding to a distributed representation of its features. It is still under debate how the distributed representation of an object is bound into a coherent whole and how unrelated features are separated. Synchronization of neural signals has been proposed to code spatial feature binding, supported by the discovery of synchronized assemblies in visual cortex. Synchronizations are either fast oscillatory (30-90 Hz) cortically generated events, or non-rhythmical stimulus-locked responses, depending on the visual stimulation. The cortical range over which synchronizations occur, transformed to visual space, is generally several times larger than the classical receptive fields (CRF) of neurones in lower visual cortex areas. However, the cortical regions synchronized by fast oscillations do not span the representational range of larger objects but only parts of it. To relate such restricted segments to perceptual processes the concept of the association field (AF) of local neural assemblies was introduced in accordance with CRFs of single neurones. Here an AF is composed of the aggregate of CRFs of an assembly engaged in a common synchronized state. It is argued that spatial continuity of an object is coded by a continuum of overlapping AFs, that is, by overlapping regions of phase coupled neurones. Hence, object continuity would be represented by phase continuity. Besides feature binding, feature separation is necessary for scene segmentation. Separation may be coded by functional decoupling causing uncorrelated activities or by mutual inhibition leading to alternating activations in assemblies of separate representations. A third temporal coding aspect is temporal segmentation by the short activation-inhibition cycles of fast oscillations or short transient stimulus-locked responses, which may prevent perceptual "smearing" by interrupting the flow of visual information into precisely defined frames. The present paper also aims at relating signals of stimulus dependent synchronization and desynchronization with basic neural mechanisms and circuits. Finally, the synchronization hypothesis is critically discussed with respect to

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Section: Feature Bindingmentioning

confidence: 96%

Neural Mechanisms of Visual Feature Binding Investigated with Microelectrodes and Models

Eckhorn¹

1999

Visual Cognition

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“…These inhibitory inputs to layer-1 neurons have relatively long time constants ( = 30 ms), and their coupling strengths are spatially distributed according to a Gaussian and (b) simulation results. The line superimposed on the layer 1 spike activities (control function) indicates the strength of the negative layer 1-to-2 feedback, increasing from left to right (modified from [6]). range on layer-1 neurons.…”

Section: ) Common Feedback Inhibition Can Provide Synchronousmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neural mechanisms of scene segmentation: recordings from the visual cortex suggest basic circuits for linking field models

Eckhorn

1999

IEEE Trans. Neural Netw.

145

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Synchronization of neural activity has been proposed to code feature linking. This was supported by the discovery of synchronized neural activities in cat and monkey visual cortex which occurred stimulus dependent either oscillatory (30-100 Hz) or nonrhythmical, internally generated or stimulus dominated. The area in visual space covered by receptive fields of an actually synchronized assembly of neurons was termed the "linking field." The present paper aims at relating signals of stimulus dependent synchronization and desynchronization, observed by us in the visual cortex of monkeys, with models of basic neural circuits explaining the measured signals and extending our former linking field model. The circuits include: 1) a model neuron with the capability of fast mutual spike linking and decoupling which does not degrade the receptive field properties; 2) linking connections for fast synchronization in neighboring assemblies driven by the same stimulus; 3) feedback inhibition in local assemblies via a common interneuron subserving synchronization, desynchronization, and suppression of uncorrelated signals; and 4) common-input connectivity among members of local and distant assemblies supporting zero-delay phase difference in distributed assemblies. Other recently observed cortical effects that potentially support scene segmentation are shortly reviewed to stimulate further ideas for models. Finally, the linking field hypothesis is critically discussed, including contradictory psychophysical work and new supportive neurophysiological evidence.

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“…One locally limited model suggested feedback from inhibitory interneurons to reduce mainly uncorrelated noise, since neurons encoding an object facilitate each other by lateral connections (Eckhorn et al, 1992). A…”

Section: Feedback Modelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Eckhorn et al (1992) demonstrate a two layer network, in which inhibitory connections from higher to lower layer serve as control loops. Feedback is diverted to the association field of a local neuron assembly.…”

Section: Inhibitory Feedbackmentioning

confidence: 99%

Coding the presence of visual objects in a recurrent neural network of visual cortex

Zwickel¹,

Wachtler²,

Eckhorn³

2007

Biosystems

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Flexible Linking of Visual Features by Stimulus-Related Synchronizations of Model Neurons

Cited by 9 publications

References 17 publications

Neural Mechanisms of Visual Feature Binding Investigated with Microelectrodes and Models

Neural Mechanisms of Visual Feature Binding Investigated with Microelectrodes and Models

Neural mechanisms of scene segmentation: recordings from the visual cortex suggest basic circuits for linking field models

Coding the presence of visual objects in a recurrent neural network of visual cortex

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