Neurons in the primary visual cortex respond selectively to lines and edges of visual images, allowing the brain to distinguish their orientation, according to a new study. The research, published in the journal Neuron, focuses on the crucial role inhibitory synapses play in recognizing orientation and may have implications for treating decreased cognitive function in the aging brain. Synapses are the junctions between neurons and other cells that allow information to travel from one cell to the next. They can exert either excitatory or inhibitory influences on the target cell depending on the neurotransmitters and receptors at the synapse.
