Scientists know they exist because all the cells in one column will respond to the same part of the retina, or the same patch of skin, but then cells in the next column will all respond to a different part of the retina or a different patch of skin. This grouping of responses is what defines a column. It is seen everywhere in the neocortex. Mountcastle pointed out that each column is further divided into several hundred “minicolumns.” If a cortical column is like a skinny strand of spaghetti, you can visualize minicolumns as even skinnier strands, like individual pieces of hair, stacked side
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