Interpretating response fluctuations in neurons, networks and behavior

Abstract

Event Abstract Back to Event Interpreting response fluctuations in neurons, networks and behavior Avner Wallach1, 2*, Asaf Gal1, 3 and Shimon Marom1 1 Technion, Israel 2 Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel 3 ICNC, Israel Trial-by-trial response variation is ubiquitous in practically every level of neural organization. We will describe our experimental efforts to measure the response fluctuations over a wide range of timescales in single neurons and large-scale networks, as well as in simple behavioral (psychophysical) settings. These fluctuations are by and large viewed as “internal noise” and accordingly averaged out. Here, two alternative interpretations will be offered and demonstrated experimentally. First, we suggest that neural systems intrinsically seek to establish relational coupling with their environments. Viewed from this perspective, the variation is interpreted as an exploratory process which emerges when such coupling is prevented (as is the case in many controlled experimental settings). We demonstrate this by showing that the fluctuations are considerably restrained in closed-loop settings, when relational coupling is allowed. A second, mechanistic framework of interpretation is that of system entrainment, according to which response fluctuations represent a multitude of underlying dynamical processes, the entrainment of which depends on the temporal complexity of the input. This is demonstrated by showing that the fluctuations may be entrained when the input to the system is temporally rich and natural-like. This work emphasizes the importance of studying neural systems in rich and interactive conditions. Acknowledgements The research leading to these results has received funding from the Ministry of Science and Technology of the State of Israel and MATERA grant agreement 3-7878 Keywords: closed-loop, entrainment, Psychophysics, veriability, networks Conference: Tenth International Congress of Neuroethology, College Park. Maryland USA, United States, 5 Aug - 10 Aug, 2012. Presentation Type: Poster Presentation (see alternatives below as well) Topic: Learning, Memory and Behavioral Plasticity Citation: Wallach A, Gal A and Marom S (2012). Interpreting response fluctuations in neurons, networks and behavior. Conference Abstract: Tenth International Congress of Neuroethology. doi: 10.3389/conf.fnbeh.2012.27.00434 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 08 May 2012; Published Online: 07 Jul 2012. * Correspondence: Dr. Avner Wallach, Technion, Haifa, Israel, avnerw@tx.technion.ac.il Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Avner Wallach Asaf Gal Shimon Marom Google Avner Wallach Asaf Gal Shimon Marom Google Scholar Avner Wallach Asaf Gal Shimon Marom PubMed Avner Wallach Asaf Gal Shimon Marom Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.