Entropy and cortical activity: information theory and PET findings.

Details

Serval ID
serval:BIB_861165A547FF
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Title
Entropy and cortical activity: information theory and PET findings.
Journal
Cerebral Cortex
Author(s)
Friston K.J., Frith C.D., Passingham R.E., Dolan R.J., Liddle P.F., Frackowiak R.S.
ISSN
1047-3211 (Print)
ISSN-L
1047-3211
Publication state
Published
Issued date
1992
Volume
2
Number
3
Pages
259-267
Language
english
Notes
Publication types: Journal Article ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tPublication Status: ppublish
Abstract
Functional segregation requires convergence and divergence of neuroanatomical connections. Furthermore, the nature of functional segregation suggests that (1) signals in convergent afferents are correlated and (2) signals in divergent efferents are uncorrelated. The aim of this article is to show that this arrangement can be predicted mathematically, using information theory and an idealized model of cortical processing. In theory, the existence of bifurcating axons limits the number of independent output channels from any small cortical region, relative to the number of inputs. An information theoretic analysis of this special (high input:output ratio) constraint indicates that the maximal transfer of information between inputs, to a cortical region, and its outputs will occur when (1) extrinsic connectivity to the area is organized such that the entropy of neural activity in afferents is optimally low and (2) connectivity intrinsic to the region is arranged to maximize the entropy measured at the initial segments of projection neurons. Under the constraints of the model, a low entropy is synonymous with high correlations between axonal firing rates (and vice versa). Consequently this antisymmetric arrangement of functional activity in convergent and divergent connections underlying functional segregation is exactly that predicted by the principle of maximum preservation of information, considered in the context of axonal bifurcation. The hypothesis that firing in convergent afferents is correlated (has low entropy) and spatially coherent was tested using positron emission tomographic measurements of cortical synaptic function in man. This hypothesis was confirmed.
Keywords
Afferent Pathways/physiology, Cerebral Cortex/physiology, Cerebral Cortex/radiography, Cerebrovascular Circulation, Humans, Information Theory, Male, Tomography, Emission-Computed
Pubmed
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25/09/2011 16:17
Last modification date
20/08/2019 14:45
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