Mind and Machine

PART 2: WHAT CAN A NEURON KNOW?

Cognitive Science, CGS2301

From structure to function

What can a neuron do?

What can a neuron know?

How can a neuron learn?

From structure to function

What can a neuron do?

What can a neuron know?

How can a neuron learn?

 What can a neuron know?
x
HOW DO NEURONS DIFFER? x
x
x x
Anatomically (hardware) - number x
and layout of dendrites x x
x
x
Physiologically - software x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
 What can a neuron know?
w1x1
HOW DO NEURONS DIFFER?
Xn neurotransmitter
input to the nth dendrite
w2x2
Wn weight with which input to
Anatomically (hardware) - number the nth dendrite impacts neuron
w3x3
and layout of dendrites
∑wixi
Physiologically - software
w4x4
Synaptic efficacy - how easy it is for
input from a dendrite to excite a w5 x5
neuron w6 x6

input
 Synaptic Ef cacy Detour
MACH BANDS
What’s really there - the reality.

Classic perceptual illusion.

Demonstration of physiology and

neural computation.

Intensity
Position
fi
 Synaptic Ef cacy Detour
MACH BANDS What we see - the perception.

Classic perceptual illusion.

Demonstration of physiology and

neural computation.

Intensity
Position
fi
 Synaptic Ef cacy Detour
LATERAL INHIBITION

Hartline, Wagner, Ratliff (1956)

Horseshoe crab (Limulus)

Ommatidium: each cell in a compound eye.

fi
 Synaptic Ef cacy Detour
LATERAL INHIBITION

Electrophysiology

Single Unit Recording demo

fi
 Synaptic Ef cacy Detour
LATERAL INHIBITION

Electrophysiology

A B
fi
 Synaptic Ef cacy Detour
LATERAL INHIBITION

Electrophysiology

Light on A, record from A:

|||||||||||||||

A B
fi
 Synaptic Ef cacy Detour
LATERAL INHIBITION

Electrophysiology

Light on A, record from A:

|||||||||||||||

Light on B, record from B:

|||||||||||||||
A B
fi
 Synaptic Ef cacy Detour
LATERAL INHIBITION

Electrophysiology

Light on A, record from A:

|||||||||||||||

Light on B, record from B:

|||||||||||||||
A B
Light on A and B, record from A:
|| | | || | ||
fi
Synaptic Ef cacy Detour
100 200

fi
Synaptic Ef cacy Detour
100 200

-10% -10% fi
-10% -10% -10% -10% -10%
Synaptic Ef cacy Detour
100 200

-10% -10% -10% -10% -10% -10% -10%

-10 -10 -10

-10 -10 -10

80 80
fi
Synaptic Ef cacy Detour
100 200

-10% -10% -10% -10% -10% -10% -10%

-10 -10 -10 -20 -20 -20

-10 -10 -10 -20 -20 -20

80 80 160 160
fi
Synaptic Ef cacy Detour
100 200

-10% -10% -10% -10% -10% -10% -10%

-10 -10 -10 -10 -20 -20 -20

-10 -10 -10 -20 -20 -20 -20

80 80 70 170 160 160

fi
What can a neuron know?
180

135

90

45

0
Cell Cell Cell Cell Cell Cell
 What can a neuron know?
w1 x1
LATERAL INHIBITION
Xn neurotransmitter
input to the nth dendrite
w2 x2
Wn weight with which input to
A neuron “knows” in the context of the nth dendrite impacts neuron
w3 x3
its surrounding neurons.
∑wixi
Every neuron has a different set of
w4 x4
neighbors.

Input weights can change. w5 x5

w6 x6 inhibition w < 0
excitation w > 0
From structure to function

What can a neuron do?

What can a neuron know?

How can a neuron learn?