Entropy and Information in Neural Spike Trains

The nervous system represents time-dependent signals in sequences of discrete action potentials or spikes, all 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...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:arXiv.org 1997-06
Main Authors: Strong, S P, Koberle, Roland, Rob R de Ruyter van Steveninck, Bialek, William
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Entropy (Information theory)
Nervous system
Sequences
Spikes
Time dependence
Visual flight
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The nervous system represents time-dependent signals in sequences of discrete action potentials or spikes, all 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 motion-sensitive neuron in the fly visual system.
ISSN:2331-8422