Topic: Neural response prediction

Arno Onken examines transformer models for predicting responses in the retina and visual cortex. These models learn complex neural-response patterns from large datasets and can transfer learned representations between settings, but fitting and interpreting them differs from linear–nonlinear and convolutional approaches. The talk discusses the opportunities and difficulties this creates for understanding sensory processing. It includes ViV1T, a transformer trained on natural movies that revealed previously uncharacterised response properties in mouse primary visual cortex. The work illustrates