Volume 9 Issue 5, May 2006

Visual cortex neurons are arranged into maps according to their response selectivity. Ocular dominance and orientation selectivity maps can develop without visual experience. Unexpectedly, the direction selectivity map requires visual input during a critical period, as later visual experience cannot rescue the direction selectivity map in dark-reared ferrets.

Many forms of LTP involve insertion of new postsynaptic AMPA receptors. Plant et al. now report transient insertion of Ca²⁺-permeable AMPA receptors after LTP induction, and find their activation is required for LTP maintenance.

Defining the connections between the cells of the mammalian retina remains a major challenge. A new study shows how two types of cone photoreceptors selectively connect with the multiple types of postsynaptic bipolar cell.

Orbitofrontal cortex damage impairs decision making. A recent article in Nature shows that this brain region is critical for computing the subjective value of an outcome and using this value signal to make choices