Adaptive rescaling maximizes information transmission.
Adaptation is a widespread phenomenon in nervous systems, providing flexibility to function under varying external conditions. Here, we relate an adaptive property of a sensory system directly to its function as a carrier of information about input signals. We show that the input/output relation of a sensory system in a dynamic environment changes with the statistical properties of the environment. Specifically, when the dynamic range of inputs changes, the input/output relation rescales so as to match the dynamic range of responses to that of the inputs. We give direct evidence that the scaling of the input/output relation is set to maximize information transmission for each distribution of signals. This adaptive behavior should be particularly useful in dealing with the intermittent statistics of natural signals.
Brenner
N
N
NEC Research Institute, Princeton, New Jersey 08540, USA.
Bialek
W
W
de Ruyter van Steveninck
R
R
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D004175:Diptera; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000502:physiology; D012677:Sensation / Q000502:physiology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology*