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SUMMARY:Transient cortical dynamics: the role of excitation/inhibition bal
 ance - Guillaume Hennequin (University of Cambridge)
DTSTART:20160513T150000Z
DTEND:20160513T163000Z
UID:TALK65332@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Jimena Berni
DESCRIPTION:In what dynamical regime do cortical circuit operate? What are
  the main building blocks of collective neuronal dynamics that enable the 
 generation of behaviour?  Classical models of cortical dynamics account fo
 r the structure of spontaneous activity rather well\, but fail to explain 
 transient\, behaviour-related activity.  In particular\, the high spatial 
 and temporal complexity of activity recorded in the motor cortex during li
 mb movements has long presented a significant challenge to modelers. Here\
 , I will describe a new class of models in which strong and complex recurr
 ent excitation is stabilized by detailed feedback inhibition. In contrast 
 with previous models\, ours are able to transiently and selectively amplif
 y certain network states\, which can be reached through appropriate extern
 al stimulation during movement planning. Following a go cue\, the input is
  withdrawn and the network's intrinsic dynamics then produces single-neuro
 n and collective activity in good agreement with empirical observations. T
 hese transients can further be decoded into complex movements. I will show
  that the complex dynamics of our networks can be understood from a simple
  building block\, already known as "balanced amplification" in the context
  of primary visual cortex dynamics. In this dynamical regime\, excitation 
 and inhibition are as tightly balanced as recently reported in experiments
  across several brain areas\, suggesting inhibitory control of complex exc
 itatory interactions as a generic principle of cortical dynamics.
LOCATION:Hodgkin Huxley Seminar Room\, Physiology Building\, Department of
  Physiology\, Development and Neuroscience.
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