Modeling dendritic networks in the fly visual system

Convolution is one of the most common operations in image processing. For a nervous system to perform such an operation on a topographic map, e.g. to blur a sensory representation of the visual field, would require an extensive network of local cells where each cell connects with all others. Based on experimental findings on two large-field visual interneurons of the fly, I will show by realistic compartmental modeling that a linear dendro-dendritic electrical coupling has the capability to perform this operation.