Response of an ensemble of noisy neuron models to a single input.
Spike timing precision in response to a subthreshold stimulation can be enhanced by noise in ensembles of neurons [X. Pei, L. Wilkens, and F. Moss, Phys. Rev. Lett. 77, 4679 (1996)]. We elucidate the mechanism underlying this phenomenon by computing the membrane potential distributions of ensembles of Hodgkin-Huxley neuron models. For small noise amplitudes, the membrane potential distribution takes on a Gaussian form centered on the resting potential, while for large fluctuations, there is a significant spread to lower potentials. These two regimes are separated by a relatively narrow band where the distributions transit rapidly from the Gaussian-like shapes to the spread ones. We argue that the optimal noise that maximizes the spike timing precision is situated close to this boundary.
Tanabe
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S
Department of Systems and Human Science, Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University, 1-3 Machikaneyama-cho, Toyonaka-shi, 560-8531 Japan.
Sato
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S
Pakdaman
K
K
D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D003198:Computer Simulation; D019706:Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D009622:Noise; D013997:Time Factors