A0911
Title: What is in a stimulus: Exploring functional connectivity and causal relationships
Authors: Reza Ramezan - University of Waterloo (Canada) [presenting]
Abstract: Neurons transmit information through consecutive electrochemical waves, which are also called spike trains due to their temporal localization. Modelling spike trains falls naturally within the statistical point process framework. However, developing multivariate point process models for neural spike trains that are flexible, computationally efficient, and biologically meaningful remains challenging. The multivariate Skellam process with resetting (MSPR) and its continuous-space generalizations within a latent factor model framework are some options to address these challenges. While these models, like most alternatives, effectively capture functional connectivity between neurons, causal relationships in synaptic transmission have been less explored. A key factor influencing functional connectivity in neuronal ensembles is the stimulus signal to which neurons respond. Using experimental data from the visual cortex of rhesus monkeys, the causal effects of stimulus signals on functional connectivity are analyzed, alongside comparisons of general neuronal associations accounting for stimulus influence. The findings provide insight into the dynamics of neural communications under external stimulation.
