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Transient dynamics between displaced fixed points: an alternate nonlinear dynamical framework for olfaction

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posted on 2023-06-08, 11:12 authored by Christopher BuckleyChristopher Buckley, Thomas NowotnyThomas Nowotny
Significant insights into the dynamics of neuronal populations have been gained in the olfactory system where rich spatio-temporal dynamics is observed during, and following, exposure to odours. It is now widely accepted that odour identity is represented in terms of stimulus-specific rate patterning observed in the cells of the antennal lobe (AL). Here we describe a nonlinear dynamical framework inspired by recent experimental findings which provides a compelling account of both the origin and the function of these dynamics. We start by analytically reducing a biologically plausible conductance based model of the AL to a quantitatively equivalent rate model and construct conditions such that the rate dynamics are well described by a single globally stable fixed point (FP). We then describe the AL's response to an odour stimulus as rich transient trajectories between this stable baseline state (the single FP in absence of odour stimulation) and the odour-specific position of the single FP during odour stimulation. We show how this framework can account for three phenomena that are observed experimentally. First, for an inhibitory period often observed immediately after an odour stimulus is removed. Second, for the qualitative differences between the dynamics in the presence and the absence of odour. Lastly, we show how it can account for the invariance of a representation of odour identity to both the duration and intensity of an odour stimulus. We compare and contrast this framework with the currently prevalent nonlinear dynamical framework of 'winnerless competition' which describes AL dynamics in terms of heteroclinic orbits

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Accepted version

Journal

Brain Research

ISSN

0006-8993

Publisher

Elsevier

Volume

1434

Page range

62-72

Department affiliated with

  • Informatics Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2012-04-20

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2012-04-20

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2012-03-01

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