Spiking activity correlations between local populations of neurons
Sonica Saraf
Abstract.
Information transfer between populations of neurons is likely related to
their spiking activity patterns covarying. Neuroscientists have measured
this phenomenon using spike-LFP, LFP-LFP, and pairwise spike
correlations. This talk introduces a method for quantifying population
level spike-spike correlations, without considering individual neuron
activity. By quantifying population activity as a whole, the
correlations are much higher than when considering paired correlations.
In addition, there is an “optimal delay” at which these correlations
should be measured, representing the phase-shift between source and
target signals. We will discuss the robustness and realism of the
correlation and optimal delay metrics, and end by considering the effect
of different forms of interference on these correlations.