Amelie looks at a tree, which is imaged on the retina. the representation of the tree in the visual cortex is contained in the firings of neurons in separate cortical columns. the information in these separated columns is combined in the cortex to create our perception of the tree. these columns work together to cover the entire visual field, which is an effect called

The answer to the question: These columns work together to cover the entire visual field, which is an effect called: Tiling.

Explanation:

The perception that we have of an object, whatever that object is, comes not just from what our visual sense is able to convey to our visual cortex, in the brain, but on how our neurons in that cortex are organized and interact with one another to put together the information that was sent to them not as a whole, but in pieces; much like a wall can be formed of individual tiles that are joined together and thus form a full picture. This effect is called tiling.

Essentially, the visual field works in the same pattern as a tiled wall would, with pieces of the information of the whole organized into the cortical columnar formation of the visual cortex and brought together in the cortex itself so that we can perceive a tree not as independent and separate portions, but as a whole.

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