Information coding by ensembles of resonant neurons.
In the present paper, we propose a novel neural procedure for signal processing and coding based on the subthreshold oscillations and resonance of the neural membrane potential that could be used by real neurons to perform frequency spectra analysis and information coding of incoming signals. Taking into account the biophysical properties of the neural membranes, we note that the subthreshold resonant behaviour they exhibit can be used to analyse incoming signals and represent them in the frequency domain. We study the reliability of the representation of signals depending on the biophysical parameters of the neurons, the fault-tolerance of this coding scheme and its robustness against noise and in the presence of spikes. The principal characteristics of our system are the use of the physical phenomenon of neural resonance (rarely considered in the literature for signal coding); it fits well with the biophysical parameters of most neurons that exhibit subthreshold oscillations; it is compatible with experimental data; and it can be easily integrated in a more general model of information processing and coding that includes communication between neurons based on spikes.
Villacorta
J A
JA
Department of Applied Mathematics, School of Optics Complutense University of Madrid Avda, Arcos de Jalón S/N, 28037 Madrid, Spain.
Panetsos
F
F
D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D000465:Algorithms; D000818:Animals; D001683:Biological Clocks / Q000502:physiology*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000502:physiology; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000502:physiology*; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology