Noise promotes independent control of gamma oscillations and grid firing within recurrent attractor networks.

ABSTRACT: Neural computations underlying cognitive functions require calibration of the strength of excitatory and inhibitory synaptic connections and are associated with modulation of gamma frequency oscillations in network activity. However, principles relating gamma oscillations, synaptic strength and circuit computations are unclear. We address this in attractor network models that account for grid firing and theta-nested gamma oscillations in the medial entorhinal cortex. We show that moderate intrinsic noise massively increases the range of synaptic strengths supporting gamma oscillations and grid computation. With moderate noise, variation in excitatory or inhibitory synaptic strength tunes the amplitude and frequency of gamma activity without disrupting grid firing. This beneficial role for

SUBMITTER: Solanka L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4508578 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature