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Updated: Apr 23, 2026

Using Neuron Spiking Activity to Trigger Closed-Loop Stimuli in Neurophysiological Experiments
Published on: November 12, 2019
Dynamics and reliability of bistable neurons driven with time-dependent stimuli
Soledad Gonzalo Cogno1, Susanne Schreiber, Ines Samengo
1Centro Atómico Bariloche and Instituto Balseiro, San Carlos de Bariloche, Rio Negro 8400, Argentina s.gonzalocogno@gmail.com.
Neuron reliability depends on input signal frequency. Near threshold, optimal reliability balances spike timing jitter and attractor transitions, influenced by noise and natural system frequencies.
Area of Science:
- Computational Neuroscience
- Systems Neuroscience
- Biophysics
Background:
- Neuron firing reliability is input-frequency dependent.
- Existing models lack threshold predictions for neuron reliability.
- Subthreshold oscillations and firing rates differ at threshold.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate neuron reliability near threshold.
- Explore behavior in bistable neurons with various stimuli.
- Clarify frequency-dependent reliability mechanisms.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of bistable neurons near firing threshold.
- Utilized constant, periodic, and stochastic input stimuli.
- Examined noise sensitivity and mode transition probabilities.
Main Results:
- Identified two natural frequencies influencing locking modes.
- Reliability depends on noise sensitivity and transition rates.
- Minimal jitter occurs at suprathreshold firing rates.
- Noise can enhance or inhibit attractor transitions.
Conclusions:
- Reliability in bistable neurons is a balance between jitter and transitions.
- Noise plays a dual role, impacting reliability complexly.
- Threshold reliability is governed by system and input frequencies.
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