Direct dependencies between neurons explain activity

Fuente: arXiv
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Autor principal: Lynn, Christopher W.
Formato: Preprint
Publicado: 2025
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author Lynn, Christopher W.
author_facet Lynn, Christopher W.
contents Our understanding of neural computation is founded on the assumption that neurons fire in response to a linear summation of inputs. Yet experiments demonstrate that some neurons are capable of complex functions that require interactions between inputs. Here we show, across multiple brain regions and species, that direct dependencies (without interactions between inputs) explain most of the variability in neuronal activity. Neurons are quantitatively described by models that capture the measured dependence on each input individually, but assume nothing about combinations of inputs. These minimal models, which are equivalent to logistic artificial neurons, predict complex higher-order dependencies and recover known features of synaptic connectivity. The inferred neural network is sparse, indicating a highly redundant neural code that is robust to perturbations. These results suggest that, despite intricate biophysical details, most neurons are described by simple artificial models.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2504_08637
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Direct dependencies between neurons explain activity
Lynn, Christopher W.
Biological Physics
Neurons and Cognition
Our understanding of neural computation is founded on the assumption that neurons fire in response to a linear summation of inputs. Yet experiments demonstrate that some neurons are capable of complex functions that require interactions between inputs. Here we show, across multiple brain regions and species, that direct dependencies (without interactions between inputs) explain most of the variability in neuronal activity. Neurons are quantitatively described by models that capture the measured dependence on each input individually, but assume nothing about combinations of inputs. These minimal models, which are equivalent to logistic artificial neurons, predict complex higher-order dependencies and recover known features of synaptic connectivity. The inferred neural network is sparse, indicating a highly redundant neural code that is robust to perturbations. These results suggest that, despite intricate biophysical details, most neurons are described by simple artificial models.
title Direct dependencies between neurons explain activity
topic Biological Physics
Neurons and Cognition
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2504.08637