Summary
The observation of various types of spatio-temporal correlations in spike-patterns of multiple cortical neurons has shifted attention from rate coding paradigms to computational processes based on the precise timing of spikes in neuronal ensembles. In the present work we develop the notion of “spatial” and “temporal interaction” which provides measures for statistical dependences in coupled stochastic processes like multiple unit spike trains. We show that the classical Willshaw network and Abeles’ synfire chain model both reveal a moderate spatial interaction, but only the synfire chain model reveals a positive temporal interaction, too. Systems that maximize temporal interaction are shown to be almost deterministic globally, but posses almost unpredictable firing behavior on the single unit level.
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Wennekers, T., Ay, N. Spatial and temporal stochastic interaction in neuronal assemblies. Theory Biosci. 122, 5–18 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12064-003-0034-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12064-003-0034-y