This paper investigates the replication of experiments by Billock and Tsou [PNAS, 2007] using the controllability of neural fields of Amari-type modelling the cortical activity in the primary visual cortex (V1), focusing on a regular funnel pattern localised in the fovea or the peripheral visual field. The aim is to understand and model the visual phenomena observed in these experiments, emphasising their nonlinear nature. The study involves designing sensory inputs simulating the visual stimuli from Billock and Tsou's experiments. The after-images induced by these inputs are then theoretically and numerically studied to determine their capacity to replicate the experimentally observed visual effects. A key aspect of this research is investigating the effects induced by the nonlinear nature of neural responses. In particular, by highlighting the importance of both excitatory and inhibitory neurons in the emergence of certain visual phenomena, this study suggests that an interplay of both types of neuronal activities plays an essential role in visual processes, challenging the assumption that the latter is mainly driven by excitatory activities alone.

翻译：本文利用Amari型神经场的可控性，模拟初级视觉皮层（V1）的皮层活动，研究Billock与Tsou [PNAS, 2007]实验的可重复性，重点分析聚焦于中央凹或周边视野的规则漏斗模式。研究目标在于理解并建模这些实验中观测到的视觉现象，尤其强调其非线性本质。通过设计模拟Billock与Tsou实验视觉刺激的感官输入，对由此诱发的后像进行理论与数值研究，以评估其复现实验观测视觉效应的能力。本研究的核心是探究神经反应非线性特性所诱发的效应。特别地，通过阐明兴奋性与抑制性神经元在特定视觉现象产生中的重要性，本研究提出两类神经元活动的交互作用在视觉过程中扮演关键角色，挑战了以往认为视觉处理主要由兴奋性活动主导的假设。