Abstract
Cortical microcircuits are very complex networks, but they are composed of a relatively small number of stereotypical motifs. Hence, one strategy for throwing light on the computational function of cortical microcircuits is to analyze emergent computational properties of these stereotypical microcircuit motifs. We are addressing here the question how spike timing-dependent plasticity shapes the computational properties of one motif that has frequently been studied experimentally: interconnected populations of pyramidal cells and parvalbumin-positive inhibitory cells in layer 2/3. Experimental studies suggest that these inhibitory neurons exert some form of divisive inhibition on the pyramidal cells. We show that this data-based form of feedback inhibition, which is softer than that of winner-take-all models that are commonly considered in theoretical analyses, contributes to the emergence of an important computational function
through spike timing-dependent plasticity: The capability to disentangle superimposed firing patterns in upstream networks, and to represent their information content through a sparse assembly code.
through spike timing-dependent plasticity: The capability to disentangle superimposed firing patterns in upstream networks, and to represent their information content through a sparse assembly code.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 8511– 8523 |
Number of pages | 24 |
Journal | The journal of neuroscience |
Volume | 37 |
Issue number | 35 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 30 Aug 2017 |
Keywords
- computational function
- cortical microcircuits
- divisive inhibition
- feedback inhibition
- synaptic plasticity
- winner-take-all
Fields of Expertise
- Information, Communication & Computing