# Correcting model error bias in estimations of neuronal dynamics from time series observations

**Authors:** Ian Williams, Joseph D. Taylor, Alain Nogaret

arXiv: 2508.19948 · 2025-08-28

## TL;DR

This paper demonstrates how a reservoir neural network can correct errors in surrogate neuron models, enabling accurate estimation of both observed and hidden neuronal dynamics from voltage recordings.

## Contribution

It introduces a reservoir neural network approach to correct model errors in Hodgkin-Huxley neuron models, improving the estimation of unobserved ion channel dynamics.

## Key findings

- Most accurate reservoir architecture identified
- Effective correction of model errors in nonlinear oscillators
- Successful reconstruction of unobserved neuronal variables

## Abstract

Neuron models built from experimental data have successfully predicted observed voltage oscillations within and beyond training range. A tantalising prospect is the possibility of estimating the unobserved dynamics of ion channels which is largely inaccessible to experiment, from membrane voltage recordings. The main roadblock here is our lack of knowledge of the equations governing biological neurons which forces us to rely on surrogate models and parameter estimates biassed by model error. Error correction algorithms are therefore needed to infer both observed and unobserved dynamics, and ultimately the actual parameters of a biological neuron. Here we use a recurrent neural network to correct the outputs of a surrogate Hodgkin-Huxley (HH) model. The reservoir-surrogate HH model hybrid was trained on the voltage oscillations of a reference HH model and its driving current waveform. Out of the six reservoir-surrogate model architectures investigated, we identify one that most accurately recovers the reference membrane voltage and ion channel dynamics. The reservoir was thus effective in correcting model error in an externally driven nonlinear oscillator and in reconstructing the dynamics of both observed and unobserved state variables from the reference model mimicking an actual neuron.

## Full text

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## Figures

7 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/2508.19948/full.md

## References

35 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/2508.19948/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/2508.19948