Dynamical Criticality in the Collective Activity of a Population of Retinal Neurons

Thierry Mora, Stéphane Deny, and Olivier Marre
Phys. Rev. Lett. 114, 078105 – Published 20 February 2015
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Abstract

Recent experimental results based on multielectrode and imaging techniques have reinvigorated the idea that large neural networks operate near a critical point, between order and disorder. However, evidence for criticality has relied on the definition of arbitrary order parameters, or on models that do not address the dynamical nature of network activity. Here we introduce a novel approach to assess criticality that overcomes these limitations, while encompassing and generalizing previous criteria. We find a simple model to describe the global activity of large populations of ganglion cells in the rat retina, and show that their statistics are poised near a critical point. Taking into account the temporal dynamics of the activity greatly enhances the evidence for criticality, revealing it where previous methods would not. The approach is general and could be used in other biological networks.

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  • Received 30 October 2014

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.114.078105

© 2015 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Thierry Mora1, Stéphane Deny2, and Olivier Marre2

  • 1Laboratoire de physique statistique, École normale supérieure, CNRS and UPMC, 24 rue Lhomond, 75005 Paris, France
  • 2Institut de la Vision, INSERM and UMPC, 17 rue Moreau, 75012 Paris, France

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Issue

Vol. 114, Iss. 7 — 20 February 2015

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