Dual-feature selectivity enables bidirectional coding in visual cortical neurons.

ABSTRACT: Sensory neurons are traditionally viewed as feature detectors that respond with an increase in firing rate to preferred stimuli while remaining unresponsive to others. Here, we identify a dual-feature encoding strategy in macaque visual cortex, wherein many neurons in areas V1 and V4 are selectively tuned to two distinct visual features-one that enhances and one that suppresses activity-around an elevated baseline firing rate. By combining neuronal recordings with functional digital twin models-deep learning-based predictive models of biological neurons-we were able to systematically identify each neuron's preferred and non-preferred features. These feature pairs served as anchors for a continuous, low-dimensional axis in natural image similarity space, along which neuronal activity varied

SUBMITTER: Franke K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12330509 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature