The primary visual cortex (V1) is the first stage in the cerebral cortex to analyse visual signals from the retina. Signals are relayed to V1 from the lateral geniculate nucleus, and a new study shows that this process involves elaborate neural computation. Rather than acting as static receptors, the visual cortical cells seem to behave dynamically, and cortico-cortical interactions are needed for monkeys, at least, to respond to visual scenes.
