Spurious dynamics in somatosensory cortex

    Authors

    O. V. Favorov; J. T. Hester; R. Lao;M. Tommerdahl

    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Behav. Brain Res.

    Keywords

    chaotic; dynamical attractor; cortical network model; NMDA; moving; stimuli; directional selectivity; AREA-1 CELL COLUMNS; SPATIAL-ORGANIZATION; PERIPHERAL INPUT; CORTICAL-NEURONS; VISUAL-CORTEX; CHAOS; NOISE; REPRESENTATION; ATTRACTORS; SI; Behavioral Sciences; Neurosciences

    Abstract

    Cortical networks are dynamical systems whose task is to process information. However, in addition to 'intended' dynamical behaviors, the sheer complexity of a cortical network's structure-regardless of its precise details-should generate additional 'unintended' dynamical behaviors. Dynamics observed in cortical network models and in the somatosensory cortex suggest that such spurious dynamical behaviors are likely to be pervasive but relatively simple, contributing to-rather than dominating-a network's response to stimuli. Spurious dynamics may be responsible for a variety of experimentally observed intriguing features of cortical dynamics. Because of their distributed origins and emergent nature, such dynamical features, while clearly identifiable, will resist attempts at identifying specific mechanisms to explain them. We describe some of the spurious dynamical phenomena associated with somatosensory cortical response to brushing stimulation, to illustrate how spurious dynamics can affect neurons' functional properties, cortical stimulus representation and, ultimately, perception. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

    Journal Title

    Behavioural Brain Research

    Volume

    135

    Issue/Number

    1-2

    Publication Date

    1-1-2002

    Document Type

    Article; Proceedings Paper

    Language

    English

    First Page

    75

    Last Page

    82

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000178541700013

    ISSN

    0166-4328

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