dorsal/arxiv
View SchemaOptimal Dynamical Range of Excitable Networks at Criticality
| Authors | Osame Kinouchi, Mauro Copelli |
|---|---|
| Categories | |
| ArXiv ID | q-bio/0601037 |
| URL | https://arxiv.org/abs/q-bio/0601037 |
| DOI | 10.1038/nphys289 |
| Journal | Nature Physics, 2, 348-351 (2006) |
Abstract
A recurrent idea in the study of complex systems is that optimal information processing is to be found near bifurcation points or phase transitions. However, this heuristic hypothesis has few (if any) concrete realizations where a standard and biologically relevant quantity is optimized at criticality. Here we give a clear example of such a phenomenon: a network of excitable elements has its sensitivity and dynamic range maximized at the critical point of a non-equilibrium phase transition. Our results are compatible with the essential role of gap junctions in olfactory glomeruli and retinal ganglionar cell output. Synchronization and global oscillations also appear in the network dynamics. We propose that the main functional role of electrical coupling is to provide an enhancement of dynamic range, therefore allowing the coding of information spanning several orders of magnitude. The mechanism could provide a microscopic neural basis for psychophysical laws.
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"abstract": "A recurrent idea in the study of complex systems is that optimal information\nprocessing is to be found near bifurcation points or phase transitions.\nHowever, this heuristic hypothesis has few (if any) concrete realizations where\na standard and biologically relevant quantity is optimized at criticality. Here\nwe give a clear example of such a phenomenon: a network of excitable elements\nhas its sensitivity and dynamic range maximized at the critical point of a\nnon-equilibrium phase transition. Our results are compatible with the essential\nrole of gap junctions in olfactory glomeruli and retinal ganglionar cell\noutput. Synchronization and global oscillations also appear in the network\ndynamics. We propose that the main functional role of electrical coupling is to\nprovide an enhancement of dynamic range, therefore allowing the coding of\ninformation spanning several orders of magnitude. The mechanism could provide a\nmicroscopic neural basis for psychophysical laws.",
"arxiv_id": "q-bio/0601037",
"authors": [
"Osame Kinouchi",
"Mauro Copelli"
],
"categories": [
"q-bio.NC",
"cond-mat.dis-nn",
"nlin.CG",
"physics.bio-ph"
],
"doi": "10.1038/nphys289",
"journal_ref": "Nature Physics, 2, 348-351 (2006)",
"title": "Optimal Dynamical Range of Excitable Networks at Criticality",
"url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/q-bio/0601037"
},
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