New stimulus-dependencies of choice-related signals in sensory neurons uncovered by new analytical results and methods.

Local disinhibition provides a biologically plausible mechanism for flexible top-down control of network states that integrates normalized value coding, winner-take-all choice, and persistent activity in a single circuit of decision-making.

Topographic maps can gradually increase the fidelity of sensory representations and improve signal-to-noise ratio across multiple cortical circuits, a generic architectural feature that depends solely on the modularity of topographic projections and recurrent inhibition.

The analytic theory establishes the general principles of synaptic transmission, enables extraction of microscopic parameters of synaptic fusion machinery from experiments, and links molecular constituents to synaptic function.

A combination of multicellular recording and optogenetic photostimulation was used to deeply characterize the spatial profiles and effective strengths of intralaminar and translaminar synaptic connections from genetically defined neuronal populations in the visual cortex of adult mouse.