ASFs generate realistic ocular dominance patterns. a, The ASF is convolved with randomly organized afferents (Step 1), the result is convolved again (Step 2), and this process repeated for 10 sequential convolutions (Steps 1–10). The value of the convolution determines whether the polarity of the afferent changes or remains the same in each developmental step. Circular filters generate ocular dominance stripes with random orientations, and elliptical filters generate ocular dominance stripes oriented orthogonal to the longest axis of the filter. b, The ocular dominance pattern becomes increasingly similar as the number of sequential convolutions increases.