Although the timing of single spikes is known to code for time-varying features of a sensory stimulus, it remains unclear whether time is also exploited in the neuronal coding of the spatial structure of the environment, where nontemporal stimulus features are fundamental. This report demonstrates that, in the whisker representation of rat cortex, precise spike timing of single neurons increases the information transmitted about stimulus location by 44%, compared to that transmitted only by the total number of spikes. Crucial to this code is the timing of the first spike after whisker movement. Complex, single neuron spike patterns play a smaller, synergistic role. Timing permits very few spikes to transmit high quantities of information about a behaviorally significant, spatial stimulus.

The role of spike timing in the coding of stimulus location in rat somatosensory cortex / Panzeri, S; Petersen, Rs; Schultz, S; Lebedev, M; Diamond, Mathew Ernest. - In: NEURON. - ISSN 0896-6273. - 29:3(2001), pp. 769-777. [10.1016/S0896-6273(01)00251-3]

The role of spike timing in the coding of stimulus location in rat somatosensory cortex

Diamond, Mathew Ernest
2001-01-01

Abstract

Although the timing of single spikes is known to code for time-varying features of a sensory stimulus, it remains unclear whether time is also exploited in the neuronal coding of the spatial structure of the environment, where nontemporal stimulus features are fundamental. This report demonstrates that, in the whisker representation of rat cortex, precise spike timing of single neurons increases the information transmitted about stimulus location by 44%, compared to that transmitted only by the total number of spikes. Crucial to this code is the timing of the first spike after whisker movement. Complex, single neuron spike patterns play a smaller, synergistic role. Timing permits very few spikes to transmit high quantities of information about a behaviorally significant, spatial stimulus.
2001
29
3
769
777
Panzeri, S; Petersen, Rs; Schultz, S; Lebedev, M; Diamond, Mathew Ernest
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
Panzeri et al. (2001).pdf

non disponibili

Licenza: Non specificato
Dimensione 236.62 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
236.62 kB Adobe PDF   Visualizza/Apri   Richiedi una copia

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11767/12837
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 139
  • Scopus 352
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 330
social impact