Neural pattern formation via a competitive Hebbian mechanism

Abstract

In this contribution we investigate a simple pattern formation process [9,10] based on Hebbian learning and competitive interactions with cortex. This process generates spatial representations of afferent (sensory) information which strongly resemble patterns of response properties of neurons commonly called brain maps. For one of the most thoroughly studied phenomena in cortical development, example, generates the observed patterns of receptive field properties including the recently described correlations between orientation the formation of topographic maps, orientation and ocular dominance columns in macaque striate cortex, the process, for preference and ocular dominance. Competitive Hebbian learning has not only proven to be a useful concept in the understanding of development and plasticity in several brain areas, but the underlying principles have been successfully applied to problems in machine learning [22]. The model's universality, simplicity, predictive power, and usefulness warrants a closer investigation.