A network view of the structure of center/surround modulations of V1 receptive field properties in visual and cortical spaces

Firing of V1 cells in response to test stimuli shown in the classical disch arge field is highly dependent on the spatial context (orientation/contrast center-surround gradients) in which they are embedded. Here, we present a preliminary study of a large-scale detailed model constrained by physiologi cal and psychophysical data which accounts for the modulatory effects induc ed by the concomitant stimulation of the "silent" surround. Numerical simul ations were used to predict the changes produced at the firing level as a f unction of the neighborhood relationship imposed by the location of the cel l in the orientation map. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserve d.