Topic: orientation responses

A characteristic feature of developing sensory circuits is spontaneous co-activations that initiate organized networks and maps in preparation for sensory experience. In species such as primates and carnivores, the mature visual cortex is characterized by iterated clusters of similarly responding neurons, or modules, and provides an excellent model system for exploring the mechanisms underlying the development of functional network organization. The sequence of early events that leads to the initial emergence of modular network structure remains unknown. Interestingly during this period of ear