A recurrent network model for the phase invariance of complex cell responses

Cortical amplification is a mechanism for modifying the selectivity of neur ons through recurrent interactions. Although conventionally used to enhance selectivity, cortical amplification can also broaden it, de-tuning neurons . Here we show that the spatial-phase invariance of complex cell responses in primary visual cortex can arise using recurrent amplification of feedfor ward input. Neurons in the model network respond like simple cells when rec urrent connections are weak and complex cells when they are strong. Simple or complex cells can coexist in such a network, and they can have a range o f selectivities for image characteristics such as spatial frequency. (C) 20 00 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.