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Nonrenewal spike train statistics: causes and functional consequences on neural coding

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An Erratum to this article was published on 31 March 2011

Abstract

Many neurons display significant patterning in their spike trains (e.g. oscillations, bursting), and there is accumulating evidence that information is contained in these patterns. In many cases, this patterning is caused by intrinsic mechanisms rather than external signals. In this review, we focus on spiking activity that displays nonrenewal statistics (i.e. memory that persists from one firing to the next). Such statistics are seen in both peripheral and central neurons and appear to be ubiquitous in the CNS. We review the principal mechanisms that can give rise to nonrenewal spike train statistics. These are separated into intrinsic mechanisms such as relative refractoriness and network mechanisms such as coupling with delayed inhibitory feedback. Next, we focus on the functional roles for nonrenewal spike train statistics. These can either increase or decrease information transmission. We also focus on how such statistics can give rise to an optimal integration timescale at which spike train variability is minimal and how this might be exploited by sensory systems to maximize the detection of weak signals. We finish by pointing out some interesting future directions for research in this area. In particular, we explore the interesting possibility that synaptic dynamics might be matched with the nonrenewal spiking statistics of presynaptic spike trains in order to further improve information transmission.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by Conacyt (O.A.A.), as well as the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Canada Foundation for Innovation and the Canada Research Chairs program (M.J.C.).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, McGill University, 3655 Sir William Osler, Room 1137, Montreal, QC, H3G 1Y6, Canada

    Oscar Avila-Akerberg & Maurice J. Chacron

  2. Department of Physiology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada

    Maurice J. Chacron

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An erratum to this article can be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00221-011-2639-6

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Avila-Akerberg, O., Chacron, M.J. Nonrenewal spike train statistics: causes and functional consequences on neural coding. Exp Brain Res 210, 353–371 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-011-2553-y

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