Sparse bursts optimize information transmission in a multiplexed neural code

  • Richard Naud
    University of Ottawa Brain and Mind Research Institute, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada;
  • Henning Sprekeler
    Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience Berlin, 10115 Berlin, Germany;

説明

<jats:title>Significance</jats:title> <jats:p>Understanding the neural code is to attribute proper meaning to temporal sequences of action potentials. We report a simple neural code based on distinguishing single spikes from spikes in close succession, commonly called “bursts.” By separating these two types of responses, we show that ensembles of neurons can communicate rapidly changing and graded information from two sources simultaneously and with minimal cross-talk. Second, we show that this multiplexing can optimize the information transferred per action potential when bursts are relatively rare. Finally, we show that neurons can demultiplex these two streams of information. We propose that this multiplexing may be particularly important in hierarchical communication where bottom–up and top–down information must be distinguished.</jats:p>

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