Spike-phase coding boosts and stabilizes information carried by spatial and temporal spike patterns

TY - JOUR

T1 - Spike-phase coding boosts and stabilizes information carried by spatial and temporal spike patterns

AU - Kayser, Christoph

AU - Montemurro, Marcelo A

AU - Logothetis, Nikos K

AU - Panzeri, Stefano

PY - 2009/2/26

Y1 - 2009/2/26

N2 - Several neural codes have been proposed in order to explain how neurons encode sensory information. Here we tested the hypothesis that different codes might be employed concurrently and provide complementary stimulus information. Quantifying the information encoded about natural sounds in the auditory cortex of alert animals, we found that temporal spike-train patterns and spatial populations were both highly informative. However, the relative phase of slow ongoing rhythms at which these (temporal or population) responses occurred provided much additional and complementary information. Such nested codes combining spike-train patterns with the phase of firing were not only most informative, but also most robust to sensory noise added to the stimulus. Our findings suggest that processing in sensory cortices could rely on the concurrent use of several codes that combine information across different spatiotemporal scales. In addition, they propose a role of slow cortical rhythms in stabilizing sensory representations by reducing effects of noise.

AB - Several neural codes have been proposed in order to explain how neurons encode sensory information. Here we tested the hypothesis that different codes might be employed concurrently and provide complementary stimulus information. Quantifying the information encoded about natural sounds in the auditory cortex of alert animals, we found that temporal spike-train patterns and spatial populations were both highly informative. However, the relative phase of slow ongoing rhythms at which these (temporal or population) responses occurred provided much additional and complementary information. Such nested codes combining spike-train patterns with the phase of firing were not only most informative, but also most robust to sensory noise added to the stimulus. Our findings suggest that processing in sensory cortices could rely on the concurrent use of several codes that combine information across different spatiotemporal scales. In addition, they propose a role of slow cortical rhythms in stabilizing sensory representations by reducing effects of noise.

KW - Acoustic Stimulation

KW - Animals

KW - Auditory Cortex/cytology

KW - Data Interpretation, Statistical

KW - Electroencephalography

KW - Electrophysiology

KW - Evoked Potentials, Auditory/physiology

KW - Information Theory

KW - Macaca mulatta

KW - Nerve Net/chemistry

KW - Sensation/physiology

KW - Sensory Receptor Cells/physiology

U2 - 10.1016/j.neuron.2009.01.008

DO - 10.1016/j.neuron.2009.01.008

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

C2 - 19249279

VL - 61

SP - 597

EP - 608

JO - NEURON

JF - NEURON

SN - 0896-6273

IS - 4

ER -