Müri, R.

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BOOK REVIEWComputational Maps in the Visual Cortexby R. Miikkulainen, J. Bednar, Y. Choe, J. Sirosh 568pp,Hardcover, € 96.95; SFR 164.00 ₤ 74.50; US\$ 125.00ISBN:0-387-22024-0 SpringerR. M. MüriReceived: 26 June 2006 /Accepted: 3 July 2006 / Published online: 25 August 2006# Springer-Verlag 2006The hardcover book of 24.2×16.3×3 cm size presents acomprehensive, unified computational theory of the visualcortex as a laterally connected self-organizing map and putsthe theory in the context of past and current research in thisarea. A computational framework called LISSOM, or laterallyinterconnected synergetically self-organizing map, is a com-putational map of the visual cortex developed in thelaboratory of the four authors over the past 10 years. Thebook was developed together with “Topographica”, a generalsimulator for computational modeling of cortical maps.Topographica is intended to serve as a common software toolfor the research community, and is freely available.The book is divided into five parts with a total of 18chapters. The first part reviews the biological backgroundfor the core constituents of LISSOM: self-organization,lateral connections, genetic versus environmentally driven,development, and temporal coding. The computationalfoundations for the model are reviewed.The second part focuses onmechanisms of input-driven self-organization and presents the basic architecture of the LISSOMcomputational map model of the primary visual cortex.The third part of the book demonstrates how the geneticand environmental influences may be combined with input-driven self-organization. The expansion of the LISSOMmodel of V1 by multi-level model includes now subcorticalareas and higher visual maps. This model demonstrates asynergy of nature and nurture in developing orientationpreferences, and allows one to gain insight into high-levelphenomena such as infant face processing. The fourth partis dedicated to the important problem of perceptualgrouping. Grouping of image elements into a coherentobject is one of the most intriguing functions of the visualsystem. The authors introduce the PGLISSOM, i.e., theperceptual grouping LISSOM, which is an extension of theLISSOM model. Temporally correlated activity is one ofthe basic elements for binding and segmentation inperceptual grouping. There is a chapter about temporalcoding and another one about contour integration.In part five of the book, future directions are outlinedand connections are made to related and complementarywork in cortical modeling and cognitive sciences. Theyshow that by reducing redundancy while preserving themost important features, an efficient foundation for patternrecognition is possible. They present an example applica-tion to handwritten digit recognition. Furthermore, theauthors give an outlook on techniques that are developedfor scaling the approach to very large maps, includingpossibly the entire visual cortex.Finally, there are seven appendices giving specificationsand parameters for the models and computational experi-ments in the book.All chapters are clearly structured and well written. Withmore than 170 figures, 47 in full color, the chapters arerichly illustrated. Each chapter starts with the specificbiological and psychophysiological evidence and the priormodeling work. The book covers a very broad spectrum ofthemes in visual sciences. A strength of the book is itsconcise survey of anatomical, neurophysiological, andpsychophysiological data necessary to understand the scopeof the computer modeling of visual functions. The book iswritten for computational scientists and neuroscientistsworking in the field of the visual cortex. The book will bea valuable complement to every scientific library.Graefe’s Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol (2007) 245:616DOI 10.1007/s00417-006-0409-0R. M. Müri (*)Perception and Eye Movement Laboratory,Departments of Neurology and Clinical Research,University of Bern, Inselspital,3010 Bern, Switzerlande-mail: rene.mueri@dkf.unibe.ch

Computational Maps in the Visual Cortex by R. Miikkulainen, J. Bednar, Y. Choe, J. Sirosh 568pp, Hardcover, € 96.95; SFR 164.00 ₤ 74.50; US\$ 125.00 ISBN:0-387-22024-0 Springer

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Computational Maps in the Visual Cortex by R. Miikkulainen, J. Bednar, Y. Choe, J. Sirosh 568pp, Hardcover, € 96.95; SFR 164.00 ₤ 74.50; US\$ 125.00 ISBN:0-387-22024-0 Springer

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