(Neural Computation. 2005;17:1577-1601.)
© 2005 The MIT Press
Spike Timing Precision and Neural Error Correction: Local Behavior
Michael Stiber
stiber{at}u.washington.edu, Computing & Software Systems, University of Washington, Bothell, WA, 98011-8246 U.S.A.
The effects of spike timing precision and dynamical behavior on error correction in spiking neurons were investigated. Stationary dischargesphase locked, quasiperiodic, or chaoticwere induced in a simulated neuron by presenting pacemaker presynaptic spike trains across a model of a prototypical inhibitory synapse. Reduced timing precision was modeled by jittering presynaptic spike times. Aftereffects of errorsin this communication, missed presynaptic spikeswere determined by comparing postsynaptic spike times between simulations identical except for the presence or absence of errors. Results show that the effects of an error vary greatly depending on the ongoing dynamical behavior. In the case of phase lockings, a high degree of presynaptic spike timing precision can provide significantly faster error recovery. For nonlocked behaviors, isolated missed spikes can have little or no discernible aftereffects (or even serve to paradoxically reduce uncertainty in postsynaptic spike timing), regardless of presynaptic imprecision. This suggests two possible categories of error correction: high-precision locking with rapid recovery and low-precision nonlocked with error immunity.
Copyright © 2005 by The MIT Press.