Firing correlations improve detection of moving bars

Moving stimuli elicit oscillatory responses from retinal ganglion cells at frequencies between 60-100 Hz. We used a computer model of the inner retina to investigate whether the additional firing synchrony resulting from stimulus-evoked high frequency oscillations could contribute to the detection of moving bars. The responses of the model ganglion cells were similar to those of cat alpha cells. Event trains from the model ganglion cells simulated by moving bars were summed into a threshold detector with short integration window (2-4 msec) whose output was classified by an ideal observer. To isolate the contribution from firing correlations, the model ganglion cells were replaced by independent Poisson generators with matched time-dependent event rates. Compared to this control, firing correlations between the model ganglion cells allowed for improved detection of moving stimuli.