A Model for Intrinsic and Activity

We have developed a mathematical framework to study the interplay of processes thought to be involved in the development of the retinotectal projection. Our model consists of two input layers which correspond to the retinae of both eyes, and one output layer which corresponds to either the right or the left half of the tectum. The connections between eyes and tectum are described by eeective synaptic weights and their development is governed by four interacting processes: Fiber-tectum interaction, intrinsic within-eye ber-ber interaction, intrinsic between-eye ber-ber interaction and activity based within-eye ber-ber interaction. We are able to reproduce all reported experiments with the same set of model parameters, as long as the outcome does not depend on \debris" of old retinal bers.