[Verse 1] From retina ganglion cells the story begins Twenty channel types encoding what the eye wins ON-parasol transient contrast in spike trains so neat Retinotopic addressing, monocular beat Racing through the optic nerve like messages in code Each pulse carries meaning down that neural road [Chorus] Part to part the signals flow Through the visual pathways we know Spike trains dancing, channels singing Every synapse keeps the message bringing From RGC to cortex high That's how we learn to see the sky [Verse 2] LGN receives those spikes but adds a twist Ninety percent non-retinal, can't be missed Attention gates the relay, arousal sets the tone Center-surround still intact but no longer alone Magno streams to four-C-alpha fast and bright Parvo feeds four-C-beta, contrast just right [Chorus] Part to part the signals flow Through the visual pathways we know Spike trains dancing, channels singing Every synapse keeps the message bringing From RGC to cortex high That's how we learn to see the sky [Verse 3] Layer six sends massive feedback, sharpening the relay Gain modulation tuning what LGN has to say Two-three to V-two layer four, edges now appear Oriented disparity signals crystal clear Feedforward representation of the visual scene The sharpest edge detection you have ever seen [Bridge] V-four whispers back predictions of shape and space Attentional gain control keeps the visual pace MT populations fire for motion direction true Speed calculations streaming to oculomotor crew Newsome readout driving saccades and pursuit Global motion signals bearing perceptual fruit [Verse 4] IT sends identity signals, invariant and strong To perirhinal cortex where memories belong Prefrontal gets the message for decisions to make Patch-clamp electrodes show what pathways take GABA glutamate dancing, receptors in their place Gamma up and beta down, the spectral embrace [Verse 5] Dorsal stream processes where objects might be found While ventral stream determines if they're safe and sound Parietal integration maps the spatial array Temporal lobe semantics name what's on display Action potentials coding every shade and hue Building conscious vision from electric blue [Chorus] Part to part the signals flow Through the visual pathways we know Spike trains dancing, channels singing Every synapse keeps the message bringing From RGC to cortex high That's how we learn to see the sky [Outro] Population codes revealing secrets of the mind Temporal patterns showing what we're meant to find Each connection tells a story of the light we see Part to part forever, visual symphony
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