Temporal precision of spike response to fluctuating input in pulse-coupled networks of oscillating neurons

TL;DR

This paper investigates how the timing precision of neuron spikes in pulse-coupled oscillator networks is affected by fluctuating inputs and coupling strength, revealing the conditions for noise-induced synchronization.

Contribution

It introduces a self-consistent equation to analyze spike-time difference distributions, advancing understanding of spike timing reliability in coupled oscillator networks.

Findings

Spike precision varies with coupling strength.

Noise can induce synchronization between networks.

Derived equations predict synchronization conditions.

Abstract

A single neuron is known to generate almost identical spike trains when the same fluctuating input is repeatedly applied. Here, we study the reliability of spike firing in a pulse-coupled network of oscillator neurons receiving fluctuating inputs. We can study the precise responses of the network as synchronization between uncoupled copies of the network by a common noisy input. To study the noise-induced synchronization between networks, we derive a self-consistent equation for the distribution of spike-time differences between the networks. Solving this equation, we elucidate how the spike precision changes as a function of the coupling strength.