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Accepted-Manuscript-JNEUROSCI.2503-20.2020.full.pdf (2.7 MB)

Dynamics of a mutual inhibition circuit between pyramidal neurons compared to human perceptual competition

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journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-09, 23:04 authored by Naoki Kogo, Felix Kern, Thomas NowotnyThomas Nowotny, Raymond van Ee, Richard van Wezel, Takeshi Alhara
Neural competition plays an essential role in active selection processes of noisy and ambiguous input signals, and it is assumed to underlie emergent properties of brain functioning, such as perceptual organization and decision-making. Despite ample theoretical research on neural competition, experimental tools to allow neurophysiological investigation of competing neurons have not been available. We developed a “hybrid” system where real-life neurons and a computer-simulated neural circuit interacted. It enabled us to construct a mutual inhibition circuit between two real-life pyramidal neurons. We then asked what dynamics this minimal unit of neural competition exhibits and compared them with the known behavioral-level dynamics of neural competition. We found that the pair of neurons shows bistability when activated simultaneously by current injections. The addition of modeled synaptic noise and changes in the activation strength showed that the dynamics of the circuit are strikingly similar to the known properties of bistable visual perception: The distribution of dominance durations showed a right-skewed shape, and the changes of the activation strengths caused changes in dominance, dominance durations, and reversal rates as stated in the well-known empirical laws of bistable perception known as Levelt's propositions.

Funding

Brains on Board: Neuromorphic Control of Flying Robots; G1980; EPSRC-ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL; EP/P006094/1

Human Brain Project Specific Grant Agreement 2 — HBP SGA2; G2410; EUROPEAN UNION; 785907

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Accepted version

Journal

Journal of Neuroscience

ISSN

0270-6474

Publisher

Society for Neuroscience

Issue

6

Volume

41

Page range

1251-1264

Department affiliated with

  • Informatics Publications

Research groups affiliated with

  • Sussex Neuroscience Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2021-02-16

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2021-06-23

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2021-02-15

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