My recollections of Hubel and Wiesel and a brief review of functional circuitry in the visual pathway
- 1Department of Biological Sciences, State University of New York, State College of Optometry, New York, NY 10036, USA
- Corresponding author J.-M. Alonso: Department of Biological Sciences, State University of New York, State College of Optometry, 33 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036, USA. Email: jalonso{at}sunyopt.edu
Abstract
The first paper of Hubel and Wiesel in The Journal of Physiology in 1959 marked the beginning of an exciting chapter in the history of visual neuroscience. Through a collaboration that lasted 25 years, Hubel and Wiesel described the main response properties of visual cortical neurons, the functional architecture of visual cortex and the role of visual experience in shaping cortical architecture. The work of Hubel and Wiesel transformed the field not only through scientific discovery but also by touching the life and scientific careers of many students. Here, I describe my personal experience as a postdoctoral student with Torsten Wiesel and how this experience influenced my own work.
Footnotes
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(Received 28 January 2009; accepted after revision 24 February 2009)
- © 2009 The Author. Journal compilation © 2009 The Physiological Society
