The referential brain: why do some neurons learn and some do not?

Abstract

Brain is phenomenally plastic and exhibits this capacity well into adulthood. Neuronal plasticity can be studied by using different adaptation protocols. Post-adaptation neurons typically show attractive and repulsive shifts even though challenged by the same adapter. Using orientation columns as a paradigm, we argue and suggest that repulsive shifts are essentially fundamental to preserve the functional organization of the cortex, and thus, maintaining the functional homeostasis of the brain.