Skip to main content

Do “Lateral Connections” in the Cortex Carry Out Topological Information?

  • Chapter
  • 25 Accesses

Abstract

The observed massive presence of non-local lateral connections in the cerebral cortex is not compatible with the implicit assumption of flatness of most models, including models of associative areas. We suggest a novel hypothesis about the functional role of lateral connections in such areas: they may reflect a topological representations of the task space. In particular, we show how the topologic information, supported by long-range connections in associative areas, can represent spatial or metric knowledge. The power of the mechanism is demonstrated by describing an activation dynamics and showing the formation of bands of ocular dominance.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   259.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   329.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   329.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. V. Braitenberg. Vehicles - Experiments in Synthetic Psychology. MIT Press, Cambridge, MA, 1984.

    Google Scholar 

  2. C. Cherniak. Component placement optimization in the brain. Journal of Neuroscience, 14: 2418–2427, 1994.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. F. Frisone, F. Firenze, P. Morasso, and L. Ricciardiello. Application of Topology-Representing Networks to the Estimation of the Intrinsic Dimensionality of Data. In ICANN95- Int. Conf on Artificial Neural Networks, volume 1, pages 323–327, Paris, October 1995.

    Google Scholar 

  4. A.P. Georgopoulos, M. Taira, and A. Lukashin. Cognitive neurophysiology of the motor cortex. Science, 260: 47–51, 1993.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. D.H. Hubel and D.C. Freeman. Short communications: Projection into the visual field of ocular dominance columns in macaque monkey. Brain Res., 122: 336–343, 1977.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. E. I. Knudsen, S. du Lac, and S.D. Esterly. Computational maps in the brain. Annual Review of Neuroscience, 10: 41–65, 1987.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. G. J. Mitchison. Neuronal branching patterns and the economy of cortical wiring. Proc. of the Royal Society, B: 151–158, 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  8. G. J. Mitchison. Axonal trees and cortical architecture. Trends in Neurosciences, 15: 122–126, 1992.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. P. Morasso and V. Sanguineti. Self-organizing body-schema for motor planning. Journal of Motor Behavior, 26: 131–148, 1995.

    Google Scholar 

  10. V. Sanguineti, R. Morasso, and F. Frisone. Cortical maps of sensorimotor spaces. In P. Morasso and V. Sanguineti, editors, Self-organization, Computational Maps, and Motor Control,pages 1–36. Elsevier Science Publishers, Amsterdam, 1997. in press.

    Google Scholar 

  11. D. M. Wolpert, Z. Ghahramani, and M. I. Jordan. Are arm trajectories planned in kinematic or dynamic coordinates? an adaptation study. Experimental Brain Research,1995. in press.

    Google Scholar 

  12. E. Zohary. Population coding of visual stimuli by cortical neurons tuned to more than one dimension. Biological Cybernetics, 66: 265–272, 1992.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1997 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Frisone, F., Sanguineti, V., Morasso, P. (1997). Do “Lateral Connections” in the Cortex Carry Out Topological Information?. In: Bower, J.M. (eds) Computational Neuroscience. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-9800-5_49

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-9800-5_49

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4757-9802-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4757-9800-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics