Dynamic of gain-modulated neural circuits

增益调制神经电路的动态

• 批准号: 6556558
• 负责人: Emilio Salinas
• 金额: $ 23.73万
• 依托单位: WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 财政年份: 2002
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2002-12-01 至 2005-11-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/6556558
• 关键词: action potentials; attention; biophysics; brain electrical activity; computational neuroscience; computer simulation; model design /development; neuroanatomy; neurophysiology; sensorimotor system; sensory discrimination; short term memory

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The response of a cortical neuron is a function of the activity of other neurons that provide synaptic input to it. Theoretical models allow such function to be nonlinear, but the combination of input activities that it acts upon is typically considered linear. This results in all inputs having the same qualitative effect on the output. However, experiments reveal that neuronal behavior often deviates notoriously from this picture. One example is the interaction between retinal and eye-position signals in posterior parietal neurons, where the extra-retinal information modulates the amplitude of responses triggered by visual stimuli. This is often described as a multiplicative interaction between two terms, one that drives the neuron and another that regulates its gain. The distinction between classical and extra-classical receptive fields is another example of direct versus modulatory influences. Circuits of gain-modulated units are known to be ideally suited for performing certain kinds of computations, but their dynamics are virtually unknown. By combining theoretical models and computer simulations, we will explore the idea that multiplicative interactions between neurons give rise to neural circuits with dynamical properties that are richer, more powerful, and closer to reality than those of traditional models. A variety of new network models will be constructed in which inputs are segregated into two classes: ones that drive the target neuron and others that modulate the amplitude of the driven response. Initial models will be based on mean firing rate descriptions, and will be compared to traditional models without explicit gain interactions. Circuits with stereotyped connectivities (uniform, random, center-surround) will be studied first. Preliminary results reveal extremely interesting and robust dynamics in these models: they may amplify weak inputs but avoid runaway behavior; they may be set at two distinct response levels, acting as a switch; they may naturally give rise to patterns of self-sustained activity, as in working memory; they may produce traveling waves of activity. These behaviors will be catalogued. Circuits of spiking neurons exhibiting similar dynamics will also be developed. This will require investigating the biophysical mechanisms underlying gain modulation. All along, gain-modulated spiking networks will be used to construct detailed models of sensory and motor systems that have been well characterized experimentally.

描述（由申请人提供）：皮层神经元的响应是向其提供突触输入的其他神经元的活动的函数。理论模型允许这种函数是非线性的，但是其作用的输入活动的组合通常被认为是线性的。这导致所有输入对输出具有相同的质量影响。然而，实验表明，神经元的行为往往偏离这一图景。一个例子是后顶叶神经元中视网膜和眼睛位置信号之间的相互作用，其中视网膜外信息调节由视觉刺激触发的反应的幅度。这通常被描述为两项之间的乘法相互作用，一项驱动神经元，另一项调节其增益。经典感受野和超经典感受野之间的区别是直接影响与调节影响的另一个例子。已知增益调制单元的电路理想地适合于执行某些类型的计算，但是它们的动态特性实际上是未知的。通过结合理论模型和计算机模拟，我们将探索神经元之间的乘法相互作用产生的神经回路的动态特性更丰富，更强大，更接近现实比传统模型的想法。将构建各种新的网络模型，其中输入被分为两类：驱动目标神经元的网络模型和调节驱动响应幅度的网络模型。初始模型将基于平均发射率描述，并将与没有明确增益相互作用的传统模型进行比较。我们将首先研究具有定型连接（均匀、随机、中心-环绕）的电路。初步结果揭示了这些模型中非常有趣和强大的动态：它们可以放大弱输入，但避免失控行为;它们可以设置在两个不同的响应水平，充当开关;它们可以自然地产生自我维持的活动模式，如工作记忆;它们可以产生活动的行波。这些行为将被分类。表现出类似动力学的尖峰神经元回路也将被开发出来。这将需要研究增益调制的生物物理机制。沿着，增益调制尖峰网络将被用来构建详细的模型的感觉和运动系统，已经很好地表征实验。