Associative Decorrelation Dynamics: A Theory of Self-Organization and Optimization in Feedback Networks

This paper outlines a dynamic theory of development and adaptation inneural networks with feedback connections. Given input ensemble, the connections change in strength according to an associative learning rule and approach a stable state where the neuronal outputs are decorrelated. We apply this theory to primary visualcortex and examine the implications of the dynamical decorrelation of the activities of orientation selective cells by the intracortical connections. The theory gives a unified and quantitative explanationof the psychophysical experiments on orientation contrast and orientation adaptation. Using only one parameter, we achieve good agreements between the theoretical predictions and the experimental data. 1 Introduction The mammalian visual system is very effective in detecting the orientations of lines and most neurons in primary visual cortex selectively respond to oriented lines and form orientation columns [1) . Why is the visual system organized as such? We *Present address: Rockefeller University, B272, 1230 York Avenue, NY, NY 10021-6399.