Followup projects which are suitable for a semesterarbeit , diploma or PhD thesis are available. This description assumes, that the visual scene is processed in a bottom-up manner. Thus, obviously, there is a top-down directed interaction, which is not elucidated by conventional paradigms. Second, in a trained paradigm, the processing of visual stimuli which are known not to be relevant to behavior is expected to be attenuated or not to be relayed to higher areas leading to a top-down directed interaction between the visual areas. Third, during initial training, spontaneous behavior and for new stimuli, where bottom-up processing is the dominant mode, the hypothesis predicts a unidirectional interaction from lower to higher areas.
Visual stimuli consist of cartoons, like boxes, mice and birds, drawn in vector graphics.
The behavioral repertoire consists of tracking a visual stimulus, pressing a button or no required reaction. During stimulation and behavior neuronal activity is recorded by microelectrodes, implanted in several areas along the hierarchy of the visual system. Differential preamplifiers are integrated in the implant in order to reduce movement artifacts and to give a superb common mode rejection. Thus, recordings are made under a variety of behavioral conditions, such as learning during initial training, reproduction of learned behavior and spontaneous behavior in an unrestrained setup. Data evaluation is based on correlation analysis and the use of modern methods of time-series analysis.