Correlations and Synchrony in Threshold Neuron Models

TL;DR

This paper investigates how threshold neuron models transfer input correlations to spike correlations, revealing rate-dependent behaviors at low input and universal patterns at high input, validated by in vitro experiments.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of correlation transfer in threshold neuron models, highlighting universal and rate-dependent regimes, supported by experimental validation.

Findings

Low input regime: spike correlations depend on firing rate and input structure.

High input regime: spike correlations are universal and independent of input details.

Heterogeneous neuron pairs show asymmetric spike correlations under common inputs.

Abstract

We study how threshold model neurons transfer temporal and interneuronal input correlations to correlations of spikes. We find that the low common input regime is governed by firing rate dependent spike correlations which are sensitive to the detailed structure of input correlation functions. In the high common input regime the spike correlations are insensitive to the firing rate and exhibit a universal peak shape independent of input correlations. Rate heterogeneous pairs driven by common inputs in general exhibit asymmetric spike correlations. All predictions are confirmed in in vitro experiments with cortical neurons driven by synthesized fluctuating input currents.