Cited by 468Visual perception and processing mechanismsNeural dynamics and brain functionNeuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research

Dynamic predictive coding by the retina

Hosoya, Toshihiko, Baccus, Stephen A., Meister, Markus·2005·Nature

Abstract

Retinal ganglion cells convey the visual image from the eye to the brain. They generally encode local differences in space and changes in time rather than the raw image intensity. This can be seen as a strategy of predictive coding, adapted through evolution to the average image statistics of the natural environment. Yet animals encounter many environments with visual statistics different from the average scene. Here we show that when this happens, the retina adjusts its processing dynamically. The spatio-temporal receptive fields of retinal ganglion cells change after a few seconds in a new environment. The changes are adaptive, in that the new receptive field improves predictive coding under the new image statistics. We show that a network model with plastic synapses can account for the large variety of observed adaptations.

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Crossref · 10.1038/nature03689

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  • Ganglion cells signal not the raw visual image but the departures from the predictable structure, under the assumption of spatial and temporal uniformity.

    “In this way, ' Ganglion cells signal not the raw visual image but the departures from the predictable structure, under the assumption of spatial and temporal uniformity ' (Hosoya et al. 2005, p. 71).”
  • Hosoya et al. confirmed that within several seconds about 50% of retinal ganglion cells altered their behaviors to keep step with the changing image statistics of varying environments.

    “Putting salamanders and rabbits into varying environments, and recording from their retinal ganglion cells, Hosoya et al. con fi rmed their hypothesis: Within a space of several seconds, about 50% of the ganglion cells altered their behaviors to keep step with the changing image statistics of the varying environments.”
  • Neural circuits predict, on the basis of local image characteristics, the likely image characteristics of nearby spots in space and time and subtract this predicted value from the actual value.

    “What this means, in each case, is that neural circuits predict, on the basis of local image characteristics, the likely image characteristics of nearby spots in space and time (basically, assuming that nearby spots will display similar image intensities) and subtract this predicted value from the actual value.”
  • Retinal ganglion cells take part in some form of predictive coding, insofar as their receptive fields display center-surround spatial antagonism and temporal antagonism.

    “The starting point of this account is the well-established sense in which retinal ganglion cells take part in some form of predictive coding, insofar as their receptive fi elds display center-surround spatial antagonism, as well as a kind of temporal antagonism.”

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Authors
Hosoya, T., Baccus, S. A., & Meister, M.
Affiliations
Harvard University (US)
Corresponding author
Meister, Markus
Venue
Nature
Published
2005-07
Volume
436
Issue
7047
Pages
71-77
ISSN
  • 0028-0836 (ISSN-L)
  • 1476-4687
OpenAlex
W2120238402
Cited by
468
References
40
Citations by year
2026: 12 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 15 · 2022: 21 · 2021: 37 · 2020: 26 · 2019: 18 · 2018: 16 · 2017: 26 · 2016: 31 · 2015: 22 · 2014: 15 · 2013: 33 · 2012: 22
FWCI
13.40
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Nature (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • CaltechAUTHORS (California Institute of Technology) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Visual perception and processing mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural dynamics and brain function
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
Keywords
predictive coding, retinal ganglion cells, adaptive coding, spatiotemporal receptive fields, visual statistics, synaptic plasticity, salamander retina, rabbit retina, feature suppression, novelty detection
MeSH terms
Adaptation, Physiological, Animals, Models, Neurological, Neuronal Plasticity, New Zealand, Photic Stimulation, Rabbits, Retina, Retinal Ganglion Cells, Synapses, Time Factors, Urodela, Caudata

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