PubMed Health⌕ Search

PubMed · 16889482

Spike-triggered neural characterization.

Abstract

Response properties of sensory neurons are commonly described using receptive fields. This description may be formalized in a model that operates with a small set of linear filters whose outputs are nonlinearly combined to determine the instantaneous firing rate. Spike-triggered average and covariance analyses can be used to estimate the filters and nonlinear combination rule from extracellular experimental data. We describe this methodology, demonstrating it with simulated model neuron examples that emphasize practical issues that arise in experimental situations.

Explore related subjects

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

Odelia Schwartz, Jonathan W Pillow, Nicole C Rust, Eero P Simoncelli. 2006-07-17. Spike-triggered neural characterization.. https://doi.org/10.1167/6.4.13

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related citations

Relationship of complex spike synchrony bands and climbing fiber projection determined by reference to aldolase C compartments in crus IIa of the rat cerebellar cortex.

Synchronous complex spike (CS) activity occurs most often among cerebellar Purkinje cells located in a narrow longitudinal (parasagittal) strip of cortex (synchrony band). The relationship of the anatomical organization of the olivocerebellar projection to these synchrony bands has not been investigated in detail. Thus, we studied this relationship by using the aldolase C (zebrin II) expression pattern, another landmark for the cerebellar longitudinal organization, as a reference frame in rat crus IIa. Crus IIa consists of 10 aldolase C-positive and -negative longitudinal compartments. Aldolase C labeling after multiple-electrode recording of CSs indicated that in lateral crus IIa (compartments 5+ to 7+) synchrony bands were generally constrained to single compartments. In contrast, in medial crus IIa (compartments 4a- to 5a-) the synchrony within and across the compartments was much higher than in lateral crus IIa, resulting in wide synchrony bands covering multiple compartments. Retrograde labeling of olivary neurons by injections of biotinylated dextran amine into aldolase C compartments in crus IIa showed that compartments in medial crus IIa were all innervated by the caudal part of the medial accessory olive. On the other hand, each aldolase C compartment in the lateral crus IIa was innervated by a region in a different subnucleus in the rostral inferior olive. These regions in different subnuclei were located close to each other. These results suggest that CS synchrony bands reflect the olivocerebellar compartmental projection pattern and neuronal coupling within a particular olivary subnucleus, and that medial and lateral crus IIa may be functionally distinct.

Action Potentials↗

Motoneurons of the flight power muscles of the blowfly Calliphora erythrocephala: structures and mutual dye coupling.

The morphologies of the motoneurons of the dorsolongitudinal and the three dorsoventral flight power muscles (DLM, DVM 1-3) of Calliphora were investigated by means of cobalt backfills and intracellular biocytin stainings. The DLM is innervated by four prothoracic motoneurons supplying the four ventral muscle fibers and one mesothoracic motoneuron supplying the two dorsal fibers. The three fibers of the DVM 1 and the two fibers of the DVM 2 are innervated by five mesothoracic motoneurons, whereas the two fibers of the DVM 3 are innervated by two prothoracic motoneurons. In general, the motoneurons of each muscle have a common ventral soma cluster located in a characteristic position on the ipsilateral side of the thoracic ganglion, show similar dendritic arborizations in the mesothoracic wing neuropil, and have the same axon pathway. Only the soma of the common motoneuron of two dorsal fibers of the DLM is situated dorsally in the contralateral hemiganglion. The motoneurons of each muscle were found to be strongly dye coupled with each other, indicating that they are connected by gap junctions. In addition, the motoneurons of each muscle establish characteristic coupling patterns with the motoneurons of the other flight power muscles on both sides of the thorax and with two bilateral groups of local mesothoracic interneurons. The revealed coupling patterns are assumed to be of major relevance for the generation the characteristic, rhythmic flight activity of the motoneurons described in previous studies.

Action Potentials↗