Coding "what" and "when" in the Archer fish retina.

ABSTRACT: Traditionally, the information content of the neural response is quantified using statistics of the responses relative to stimulus onset time with the assumption that the brain uses onset time to infer stimulus identity. However, stimulus onset time must also be estimated by the brain, making the utility of such an approach questionable. How can stimulus onset be estimated from the neural responses with sufficient accuracy to ensure reliable stimulus identification? We address this question using the framework of colour coding by the archer fish retinal ganglion cell. We found that stimulus identity, "what", can be estimated from the responses of best single cells with an accuracy comparable to that of the animal's psychophysical estimation. However, to extract this information, an accurat

SUBMITTER: Vasserman G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2973823 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature