[Paper study] Network oscillations: emerging computational principles

Three functional roles of oscillation:

• Representation of information

Provides a temporal reference, preserving phase locked spikes and filtering non-phase locked spikes, so that spike timing precision is achieved.As a result, the higher frequency corresponds to more precise spike timing, makinghigher level concepts more likely to be triggered, which is possibly required by high level thinking.

To test this theory, techniques to interfere oscillation, such as gene knock-out or viral vectors, should be used to show such interference could disrupt perception.

Encoding by phase and oscillation & binding.

• Regulate information flow

Attention in gamma band is closely related to neuromodulators that regulate oscillation.

Inhibitory interneuron networks are sources of oscillations and potential targets of top down inputs.In particular, excitory input can rapidly synchronize a subset of the inhibitory neurons that are in competition with other inhibitory networks. (Tiesinga and Sejnowski 2004 rapid temporal modulation of synchrony by competition in cortical interneuron networks)

• Storage and retrieval of information

Correlations in input activity can induce synaptic plasticity, increasing the likelihood to be stored in memory.

Information stored during oscillation via STDP. And retrieved based on Bayesian interference.

Reference
Sejnowski, Terrence J., and Ole Paulsen. “Network oscillations: emerging computational principles.” The Journal of neuroscience 26.6 (2006): 1673-1676.