The contribution of low contrast-preferring neurons to information representation in the primary visual cortex after learning.

ABSTRACT: Animals exhibit improved perception of lower-contrast visual objects after training. We explored this neuronal mechanism using multiple single-unit recordings from deep layers of the primary visual cortex (V1) of trained rats during orientation discrimination. We found that the firing rates of a subset of neurons increased by reducing luminance contrast, being at least above basal activities at low contrast. These low contrast–preferring neurons were rare during passive viewing without training or anesthesia after training. They fired more frequently in correct-choice than incorrect-choice trials. At single-neuron and population levels, they efficiently represented low-contrast orientations. Following training, in addition to generally enhanced excitation, the phase synchronization of spik

SUBMITTER: Kimura R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8626071 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature