The role of coincidence-detector neurons in the reliability and precision of subthreshold signal detection in noise.

Subthreshold signal detection is an important task for animal survival in complex environments, where noise increases both the external signal response and the spontaneous spiking of neurons. The mechanism by which neurons process the coding of signals is not well understood. Here, we propose that c...

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Main Authors: Yueling Chen, Hui Zhang, Hengtong Wang, Lianchun Yu, Yong Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2013-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3572097?pdf=render
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author Yueling Chen
Hui Zhang
Hengtong Wang
Lianchun Yu
Yong Chen
author_facet Yueling Chen
Hui Zhang
Hengtong Wang
Lianchun Yu
Yong Chen
author_sort Yueling Chen
collection DOAJ
description Subthreshold signal detection is an important task for animal survival in complex environments, where noise increases both the external signal response and the spontaneous spiking of neurons. The mechanism by which neurons process the coding of signals is not well understood. Here, we propose that coincidence detection, one of the ways to describe the functionality of a single neural cell, can improve the reliability and the precision of signal detection through detection of presynaptic input synchrony. Using a simplified neuronal network model composed of dozens of integrate-and-fire neurons and a single coincidence-detector neuron, we show how the network reads out the subthreshold noisy signals reliably and precisely. We find suitable pairing parameters, the threshold and the detection time window of the coincidence-detector neuron, that optimize the precision and reliability of the neuron. Furthermore, it is observed that the refractory period induces an oscillation in the spontaneous firing, but the neuron can inhibit this activity and improve the reliability and precision further. In the case of intermediate intrinsic states of the input neuron, the network responds to the input more efficiently. These results present the critical link between spiking synchrony and noisy signal transfer, which is utilized in coincidence detection, resulting in enhancement of temporally sensitive coding scheme.
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spelling doaj.art-f2c6c7754fda41789b7816421f099b952022-12-22T01:24:42ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032013-01-0182e5682210.1371/journal.pone.0056822The role of coincidence-detector neurons in the reliability and precision of subthreshold signal detection in noise.Yueling ChenHui ZhangHengtong WangLianchun YuYong ChenSubthreshold signal detection is an important task for animal survival in complex environments, where noise increases both the external signal response and the spontaneous spiking of neurons. The mechanism by which neurons process the coding of signals is not well understood. Here, we propose that coincidence detection, one of the ways to describe the functionality of a single neural cell, can improve the reliability and the precision of signal detection through detection of presynaptic input synchrony. Using a simplified neuronal network model composed of dozens of integrate-and-fire neurons and a single coincidence-detector neuron, we show how the network reads out the subthreshold noisy signals reliably and precisely. We find suitable pairing parameters, the threshold and the detection time window of the coincidence-detector neuron, that optimize the precision and reliability of the neuron. Furthermore, it is observed that the refractory period induces an oscillation in the spontaneous firing, but the neuron can inhibit this activity and improve the reliability and precision further. In the case of intermediate intrinsic states of the input neuron, the network responds to the input more efficiently. These results present the critical link between spiking synchrony and noisy signal transfer, which is utilized in coincidence detection, resulting in enhancement of temporally sensitive coding scheme.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3572097?pdf=render
spellingShingle Yueling Chen
Hui Zhang
Hengtong Wang
Lianchun Yu
Yong Chen
The role of coincidence-detector neurons in the reliability and precision of subthreshold signal detection in noise.
PLoS ONE
title The role of coincidence-detector neurons in the reliability and precision of subthreshold signal detection in noise.
title_full The role of coincidence-detector neurons in the reliability and precision of subthreshold signal detection in noise.
title_fullStr The role of coincidence-detector neurons in the reliability and precision of subthreshold signal detection in noise.
title_full_unstemmed The role of coincidence-detector neurons in the reliability and precision of subthreshold signal detection in noise.
title_short The role of coincidence-detector neurons in the reliability and precision of subthreshold signal detection in noise.
title_sort role of coincidence detector neurons in the reliability and precision of subthreshold signal detection in noise
url http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3572097?pdf=render
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