Optimal responsiveness and information flow in networks of heterogeneous neurons.

ABSTRACT: Cerebral cortex is characterized by a strong neuron-to-neuron heterogeneity, but it is unclear what consequences this may have for cortical computations, while most computational models consider networks of identical units. Here, we study network models of spiking neurons endowed with heterogeneity, that we treat independently for excitatory and inhibitory neurons. We find that heterogeneous networks are generally more responsive, with an optimal responsiveness occurring for levels of heterogeneity found experimentally in different published datasets, for both excitatory and inhibitory neurons. To investigate the underlying mechanisms, we introduce a mean-field model of heterogeneous networks. This mean-field model captures optimal responsiveness and suggests that it is related to the stab

SUBMITTER: Di Volo M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8413388 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature