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Shared neural variability, often seen as noise, actually conveys crucial information to downstream brain areas. This variability aligns with task goals, enhancing sensory information processing and guiding behavior.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Computational Neuroscience

Background:

  • Shared variability in sensory neuron activity typically decreases with improved performance.
  • This low-dimensional variability could theoretically be ignored by optimal neural decoders.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the functional role of shared neural variability in sensory processing and behavior.
  • To determine if shared variability represents information rather than noise.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a circuit model to simulate neural activity and information flow.
  • Analyzed neural population recordings from multiple brain areas and tasks.
  • Examined the impact of microstimulation on neural activity and behavior.

Main Results:

  • Shared variability amplifies behaviorally relevant information when sensory signals align with it.
  • The primary axis of shared variability consistently correlates with task-relevant stimuli and actions.
  • Microstimulation's behavioral effects are explained by changes in neural projections onto the shared variability axis.

Conclusions:

  • Shared neural variability is not noise but a key mechanism for communicating information.
  • This variability highlights the neural dimensions critical for guiding behavior.