Topic: fluctuation-driven regime

A neuron’s input-output function is a central component of network dynamics and is commonly understood in terms of two fundamental operating regimes: 1) the mean-driven regime where the mean input drives regular and frequent firing, and 2) the fluctuation-driven regime where input fluctuations drive responses at relatively low firing frequency but with variable intervals. Active dendrites are expected to profoundly influence the input-output function by either controlling gain modulation or through the additive modulation by dendritic inputs that have been transformed nonlinearly as in an arti

Temporal irregularity and heterogeneities are key features of neuronal spiking activity in cortical networks. Simplified theoretical models of cortical circuits show that these features can be mechanistically accounted for if cortex operates in a fluctuation-driven regime (FDR). In FDR, excitatory and inhibitory currents are approximately balanced, and activity fluctuations emerge intrinsically from the non-linear network dynamics. However, it is still unclear if cortex operates in this regime. We address this question by analyzing sub-threshold membrane potential of neurons in sensory and fr