On the application of information theory to neural spike trains

The nervous system represents time-dependent signals in sequences of discrete action potentials or spikes are identical so that information is carried only in the spike arrival times. We show how to quantify this information, in bits, free from any assumptions about which features of the spike train or input waveform are most important. We apply this approach to the analysis of experiments on a variety of systems, including some where we confront severe sampling problems, and discuss some to the results obtained and hopes for future extensions.