Columns and Hypercolumns
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Transcript Columns and Hypercolumns
Erin Berrisford, Lisa Fenske, Adam
Justin, Sara Duxbury, Joe Tuzinski, &
Ryan Mastellar
History
Hubel and Wiesel
Used a recording electrode to push farther and farther down into the cortex, finding
neurons with similar response properties
Neurons with similar orientation are arranged in vertical columns throughout the
cortex
What is a column?
A column is a trio of vertical cells
Respond to similar stimuli and characteristics
The cells in each column work together to interpret a
stimuli
Take a thick, yellow, slanted line
One cell interprets the yellow, another the thickness,
another orientation- all these cells work together to
see a yellow line that is thick and slanted
Each column prefers input from the left or right eye
Located in the striate cortex
Each column covers about .5mm
Hypercolumns
Contains at least two sets of columns that function as a
unit
Each is like a mini computer
Each perceives one small portion of the visual field
Enough columns to cover every possible orientation (0180 degrees)
Each hypercolumn is about 1mm across
Half of the hypercolumn responds to light falling on the
left retina, the other half responds to light falling on the
right retina
Each hypercolumn has enough cells to respond to light,
orientation, and bar width
Includes a pair of columns called blobs
Blobs
Function unclear
CO blob columns are thought to aid in processing color
(CO stands for cytochrom oxidase- a staining technique
enzyme)
Interblob regions process motion and spatial structure
Demonstration
http://www.sinauer.com/wolfe2e/chap3/hypercolumnsF.htm
Scan in picture and place here
To Sum up
Hypercolumns are used by the striate
cortex to analyze size, shape, speed, and
direction
Each cell is in charge of a certain
characteristic but all work together to
create the pictures we interpret from the
visual world