Representation and Learning in Neuronal Networks: A Conceptual Nervous System Approach

Danny Eytan

doi:10.5041/rmmj.10054

Abstract

The work presented in this review describes the use of large cortical networks developing ex vivo, in a culture dish, to study principles underlying synchronization, adaptation, learning, and representation in neuronal assemblies. The motivation to study neuronal networks ex vivo is outlined together with a short description of recent results in this field. Following a short description of the experimental system, a set of basic results will be presented that concern self-organization of activity, dynamical and functional properties of neurons and networks in response to external stimulation. This short review ends with an outline of future questions and research directions.

Highlights

In what follows we describe the use of multisite interaction with large cortical networks developing ex vivo, in a culture dish, to study basic biophysical aspects of synchronization, adaptation, learning, and representation in neuronal assemblies
What these studies mainly show is that such changes can be achieved, but there are no simple “plasticity rules” at the network level, such as those discovered for single synapse in the sense of long-term potentiation (LTP), long-term depression (LTD), or spike-timing-dependent plasticity (STDP)
We have initially shown that in spontaneously developing large-scale random networks of cortical neurons in vitro the order in which neurons are recruited following each stimulus is a naturally emerging representation primitive that is invariant to significant temporal changes in spike times

Summary

MOTIVATION AND BACKGROUND

The cornerstone of the behavioral and brain science endeavors is the notion of the psychobiological transform. According to this notion, behavior is, in principle, transformable to brain states and transitions between such states on a one-toone basis. Behavior is, in principle, transformable to brain states and transitions between such states on a one-toone basis Behavior, in this context, is thought, language, feeling, perception, learning, movement, sensing, planning, creativity, and other. Representation and Learning in Neuronal Networks: A Conceptual Nervous System Approach. Conflict of interest: No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported

SPONTANEOUS AND EVOKED ACTIVITY IN NETWORKS OF CORTICAL NEURONS

MAPPING THE CONCEPT OF LEARNING TO THE NETWORK PREPARATION

REPRESENTATION OF EXTERNAL INPUTS IN NEURONAL NETWORKS

OPEN QUESTIONS AND OUTLOOK