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Wiener-Volterra characterization of neurons in primary auditory cortex using poisson-distributed impulse train inputs
Martin Pienkowski1, Greg Shaw, Jos J Eggermont
1Department of Physiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, T2N 1N4.
Journal of Neurophysiology
|March 27, 2009
Summary
This study modeled auditory cortex neuron responses using a novel Poisson-Wiener (PW) approach. Second-order nonlinear models accurately predicted neural responses, revealing compressive nonlinearities crucial for auditory modulation tuning.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Auditory System Research
- Computational Neuroscience
Background:
- Understanding neuronal temporal response properties is key to auditory processing.
- The Wiener-Volterra theory provides a framework for characterizing neural dynamics.
- Primary auditory cortex (AI) neurons exhibit complex temporal response patterns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To extend the Wiener-Volterra theory to Poisson-distributed impulse train inputs.
- To characterize the temporal response properties of primary auditory cortex (AI) neurons.
- To compare linear and nonlinear Poisson-Wiener (PW) model performance in predicting neural responses.
Main Methods:
- Utilized an extended Wiener-Volterra theory with Poisson-distributed impulse train inputs.
- Applied first- and second-order "Poisson-Wiener" (PW) models.
- Derived temporal modulation transfer functions (tMTFs) from extracellular spike responses to periodic click trains (2-64 Hz).
Main Results:
- Second-order (nonlinear) PW models provided very good fits to measured tMTFs (predictability ≥80%) and outperformed first-order (linear) models.
- All sampled neurons exhibited strong compressive nonlinearities in their second-order PW kernels, never expansive nonlinearities.
- Depression decay in low-pass tMTF neurons was exponential; in band-pass tMTF neurons, it was typically double-peaked, with the second peak correlating to best modulation frequency.
Conclusions:
- Second-order nonlinear Poisson-Wiener models effectively characterize temporal response properties in auditory cortex neurons.
- Auditory cortex neurons exhibit compressive nonlinearities, not facilitative ones.
- Modulation tuning in the auditory cortex arises from the interaction of at least two nonlinear processes with different time courses.
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