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Maximizing Sensory Dynamic Range by Tuning the Cortical State to Criticality

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  • Shree Hari Gautam
  • Thanh T Hoang
  • Kylie McClanahan
  • Stephen K Grady
  • Woodrow L Shew

Abstract

Modulation of interactions among neurons can manifest as dramatic changes in the state of population dynamics in cerebral cortex. How such transitions in cortical state impact the information processing performed by cortical circuits is not clear. Here we performed experiments and computational modeling to determine how somatosensory dynamic range depends on cortical state. We used microelectrode arrays to record ongoing and whisker stimulus-evoked population spiking activity in somatosensory cortex of urethane anesthetized rats. We observed a continuum of different cortical states; at one extreme population activity exhibited small scale variability and was weakly correlated, the other extreme had large scale fluctuations and strong correlations. In experiments, shifts along the continuum often occurred naturally, without direct manipulation. In addition, in both the experiment and the model we directly tuned the cortical state by manipulating inhibitory synaptic interactions. Our principal finding was that somatosensory dynamic range was maximized in a specific cortical state, called criticality, near the tipping point midway between the ends of the continuum. The optimal cortical state was uniquely characterized by scale-free ongoing population dynamics and moderate correlations, in line with theoretical predictions about criticality. However, to reproduce our experimental findings, we found that existing theory required modifications which account for activity-dependent depression. In conclusion, our experiments indicate that in vivo sensory dynamic range is maximized near criticality and our model revealed an unanticipated role for activity-dependent depression in this basic principle of cortical function.Author Summary: When many simple parts interact, the collective behavior of the whole can be astonishingly complex. A particularly striking example is our capacity for sensory perception, which results from the collective interactions of billions of relatively simple neurons. Another example is found in physical systems which undergo a phase transition–for example, liquid water turning to solid ice. When collective interactions among the water molecules are changed, the system transitions from a disordered state (liquid) to an ordered state (crystalline solid). At the tipping point of a critical phase transition, i.e. at criticality, physical systems exhibit very complex behavior. In this study, we show that phase transitions may occur in the cerebral cortex changing the neural activity from a disordered to an ordered state. Moreover, this neural phase transition may be intimately linked with sensory perception. We experimentally manipulate the interactions among neurons and show that sensory dynamic range is maximized when the cerebral cortex of a rat is closest to criticality.

Suggested Citation

  • Shree Hari Gautam & Thanh T Hoang & Kylie McClanahan & Stephen K Grady & Woodrow L Shew, 2015. "Maximizing Sensory Dynamic Range by Tuning the Cortical State to Criticality," PLOS Computational Biology, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(12), pages 1-15, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:plo:pcbi00:1004576
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1004576
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    Cited by:

    1. Bruno Del Papa & Viola Priesemann & Jochen Triesch, 2017. "Criticality meets learning: Criticality signatures in a self-organizing recurrent neural network," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(5), pages 1-21, May.
    2. Thomas F Varley & Olaf Sporns & Aina Puce & John Beggs, 2020. "Differential effects of propofol and ketamine on critical brain dynamics," PLOS Computational Biology, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(12), pages 1-29, December.
    3. Andrea K Barreiro & Shree Hari Gautam & Woodrow L Shew & Cheng Ly, 2017. "A theoretical framework for analyzing coupled neuronal networks: Application to the olfactory system," PLOS Computational Biology, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(10), pages 1-37, October.
    4. Safaeesirat, Amin & Moghimi-Araghi, Saman, 2022. "Critical behavior at the onset of synchronization in a neuronal model," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 587(C).
    5. Brandon R. Munn & Eli J. Müller & Vicente Medel & Sharon L. Naismith & Joseph T. Lizier & Robert D. Sanders & James M. Shine, 2023. "Neuronal connected burst cascades bridge macroscale adaptive signatures across arousal states," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-17, December.
    6. Forough Habibollahi & Brett J. Kagan & Anthony N. Burkitt & Chris French, 2023. "Critical dynamics arise during structured information presentation within embodied in vitro neuronal networks," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-13, December.
    7. Yang, JinHao & Ding, Yiming & Di, Zengru & Wang, DaHui, 2024. "“All-or-none” dynamics and local-range dominated interaction leading to criticality in neural systems," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 638(C).

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