Neural image processing by dendritic networks
- Department of Systems and Computational Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Am Klopferspitz 18a, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
-
Edited by David W. Tank, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ (received for review February 6, 2003)
Abstract
Convolution is one of the most common operations in image processing. Based on experimental findings on motion-sensitive visual interneurons of the fly, we show by realistic compartmental modeling that a dendritic network can implement this operation. In a first step, dendritic electrical coupling between two cells spatially blurs the original motion input. The blurred motion image is then passed onto a third cell via inhibitory dendritic synapses resulting in a sharpening of the signal. This enhancement of motion contrast may be the central element of figure–ground discrimination based on relative motion in the fly.
Footnotes
-
↵ * To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: cuntz{at}neuro.mpg.de.
-
This paper was submitted directly (Track II) to the PNAS office.
-
Abbreviations: HS, horizontal system; CH, centrifugal horizontal; HSE, equatorial HS; HSS, southern HS; vCH, ventral CH; FD, figure detection.
- Copyright © 2003, The National Academy of Sciences
