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Fractional neural sampling as a theory of spatiotemporal probabilistic computations in neural circuits

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  • Yang Qi

    (University of Sydney
    Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University
    Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain-Inspired Intelligence (Fudan University), Ministry of Education
    MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University)

  • Pulin Gong

    (University of Sydney)

Abstract

A range of perceptual and cognitive processes have been characterized from the perspective of probabilistic representations and inference. To understand the neural circuit mechanism underlying these probabilistic computations, we develop a theory based on complex spatiotemporal dynamics of neural population activity. We first implement and explore this theory in a biophysically realistic, spiking neural circuit. Population activity patterns emerging from the circuit capture realistic variability or fluctuations of neural dynamics both in time and in space. These activity patterns implement a type of probabilistic computations that we name fractional neural sampling (FNS). We further develop a mathematical model to reveal the algorithmic nature of FNS and its computational advantages for representing multimodal distributions, a major challenge faced by existing theories. We demonstrate that FNS provides a unified account of a diversity of experimental observations of neural spatiotemporal dynamics and perceptual processes such as visual perception inference, and that FNS makes experimentally testable predictions.

Suggested Citation

  • Yang Qi & Pulin Gong, 2022. "Fractional neural sampling as a theory of spatiotemporal probabilistic computations in neural circuits," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-19, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-32279-z
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32279-z
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Fateev, I. & Polezhaev, A., 2024. "Chimera states in a lattice of superdiffusively coupled neurons," Chaos, Solitons & Fractals, Elsevier, vol. 181(C).

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