Neuronal noise
Encyclopedia
Neuronal noise is the term that describes random activity of neuron
s that presumably is not associated with encoding of behaviorally relevant variables. Many neuroscientists consider neuronal noise a factor that limits the capacity of information processing by the brain. Thus, Patrick Wilken
and colleagues have suggested that neuronal noise is the principal factor that limits the capacity of visual short-term memory. Investigators of neural ensemble
s, and especially those who support the theory of distributed processing, propose that large neuronal populations effectively decrease noise by averaging out the noise in individual neurons.
Some investigators have shown experimentally and in models that neuronal noise is a possible mechanism to facilitate neuronal processing. The presence of neuronal noise (or more specifically synaptic noise
) confers to neurons more sensitivity to a broader range of inputs, it can equalize the efficacy of synaptic inputs located at different positions on the neuron, and it can also enable finer temporal discrimination (see details in the "High-conductance state" article in Scholarpedia
).
The external noise paradigm is used to test the presence or absence of neural noise. According to this paradigm, external noise should multiplicatively increase the amount of internal noise in the central nervous system. Researchers add visual or auditory external noise to a stimuli, and measure how it affects reaction time or the subject's performance. If performance is more inconsistent than without the noise, the subject has internal noise.
Neuron
A neuron is an electrically excitable cell that processes and transmits information by electrical and chemical signaling. Chemical signaling occurs via synapses, specialized connections with other cells. Neurons connect to each other to form networks. Neurons are the core components of the nervous...
s that presumably is not associated with encoding of behaviorally relevant variables. Many neuroscientists consider neuronal noise a factor that limits the capacity of information processing by the brain. Thus, Patrick Wilken
Patrick Wilken
Patrick Wilken is an editor at Cell Press in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in the United States.He completed his doctoral studies at the University of Melbourne in 2001 under the supervision of Jason Mattingley and William Webster, where he developed models of visual short-term memory...
and colleagues have suggested that neuronal noise is the principal factor that limits the capacity of visual short-term memory. Investigators of neural ensemble
Neural ensemble
A neural ensemble is a population of nervous system cells involved in a particular neural computation.- Background :The concept of neural ensemble dates back to the work of Charles Sherrington who described the functioning of the CNS as the system of reflex arcs, each composed of interconnected...
s, and especially those who support the theory of distributed processing, propose that large neuronal populations effectively decrease noise by averaging out the noise in individual neurons.
Some investigators have shown experimentally and in models that neuronal noise is a possible mechanism to facilitate neuronal processing. The presence of neuronal noise (or more specifically synaptic noise
Synaptic noise
Synaptic noise describes the continuous and noisy "bombardment" of central neurons by synaptic inputs, especially in vivo. In particular, the cerebral cortex in vivo is characterized by sustained and irregular neuronal activity, which combined with the very high cortical interconnectivity, is...
) confers to neurons more sensitivity to a broader range of inputs, it can equalize the efficacy of synaptic inputs located at different positions on the neuron, and it can also enable finer temporal discrimination (see details in the "High-conductance state" article in Scholarpedia
Scholarpedia
Scholarpedia is an English-language online wiki-based encyclopedia that uses the same MediaWiki software as Wikipedia, but has features more commonly associated with open-access online academic journals....
).
The external noise paradigm is used to test the presence or absence of neural noise. According to this paradigm, external noise should multiplicatively increase the amount of internal noise in the central nervous system. Researchers add visual or auditory external noise to a stimuli, and measure how it affects reaction time or the subject's performance. If performance is more inconsistent than without the noise, the subject has internal noise.
External links
- Neuronal Noise article in ScholarpediaScholarpediaScholarpedia is an English-language online wiki-based encyclopedia that uses the same MediaWiki software as Wikipedia, but has features more commonly associated with open-access online academic journals....
- High-Conductance State article in ScholarpediaScholarpediaScholarpedia is an English-language online wiki-based encyclopedia that uses the same MediaWiki software as Wikipedia, but has features more commonly associated with open-access online academic journals....