Optimal information transfer in synchronized neocortical neurons

The output precision and information transmission was studied in a model neocortical neuron that was driven by a periodic presynaptic spike train with a variable number of inhibitory inputs on each cycle. Spike-timing precision was maintained during feedforward propagation during entrainment. The range of presynaptic "ring rates and precision for entrainment was determined. During entrainment the Shannon information of the output spike phase was reduced but the amount of information the neuron transmitted about the synaptic input was increased. We quantify how robust information transmission is against intrinsic neuronal noise. We propose how neuromodulation, via entrainment, can regulate the information transfer in neocortical networks. 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.