Stochastic transitions into silence cause noise correlations in cortical circuits

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1410509112
• Publication Date: 2015-03-05T03:13:32Z
• Authors: Gabriela Mochol; Ainhoa Hermoso-Me...; Shuzo Sakata; Kenneth D. Harris; Jaime de la Rocha
• Keywords: Cortical neurons; Silence; Biological neural network; Premovement neuronal activity

The spiking activity of cortical neurons is highly variable. This variability generally correlated among nearby neurons, an effect commonly interpreted to reflect the coactivation due anatomically shared inputs. Recent findings, however, indicate that correlations can be dynamically modulated, suggesting underlying mechanisms are not well understood. Here, we investigate hypothesis dominated by neuronal coinactivation: occurrence brief silent periods during which all in local network stop firing. We recorded from large populations auditory cortex anesthetized rats across different brain states. During spontaneous activity, reduction correlation accompanying state desynchronization was largely explained a decrease density periods. presentation stimulus caused initial drop followed rebound, time course mimicked instantaneous silence density. built rate model with fluctuation-driven transitions between and active attractor assumed fired Poisson spike trains following dynamics. Variations external input altered transition into reproduced relation found data, both evoked conditions. suggests observed changes correlation, occurring gradually variations or abruptly sensory stimulation, likeliness microcircuit transiently cease