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Gating multiple signals through detailed balance of excitation and inhibition in spiking networks

Nature Neuroscience volume 12, pages 483–491 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

Recent theoretical work has provided a basic understanding of signal propagation in networks of spiking neurons, but mechanisms for gating and controlling these signals have not been investigated previously. Here we introduce an idea for the gating of multiple signals in cortical networks that combines principles of signal propagation with aspects of balanced networks. Specifically, we studied networks in which incoming excitatory signals are normally cancelled by locally evoked inhibition, leaving the targeted layer unresponsive. Transmission can be gated 'on' by modulating excitatory and inhibitory gains to upset this detailed balance. We illustrate gating through detailed balance in large networks of integrate-and-fire neurons. We show successful gating of multiple signals and study failure modes that produce effects reminiscent of clinically observed pathologies. Provided that the individual signals are detectable, detailed balance has a large capacity for gating multiple signals.

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Figure 1: Network connectivity and properties.
Figure 2: Detailed balance in a network.
Figure 3: Response analysis.
Figure 4: Gain properties.
Figure 5: Network pathologies.
Figure 6: Gating two signals in a network.
Figure 7: Multiple signals into a single cell.

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Acknowledgements

The idea of detailed balance was originally suggested to us by G. Turrigiano. Research supported by the US National Science Foundation (IBN-0235463), the Swartz Foundation, the Patterson Trust Fellowship Program in Brain Circuitry and a US National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director's Pioneer Award, part of the NIH Roadmap for Medical Research, through grant number 5-DP1-OD114-02. Thanks to J. Peelle, M. Schiff, P. Jercog and R. Yuste for suggestions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology and Cellular Biophysics, Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York, USA

    Tim P Vogels & L F Abbott

  2. Department of Biology, Volen Center for Complex Systems, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts, USA

    Tim P Vogels

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  2. L F Abbott
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Correspondence to Tim P Vogels.

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Vogels, T., Abbott, L. Gating multiple signals through detailed balance of excitation and inhibition in spiking networks. Nat Neurosci 12, 483–491 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/nn.2276

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