Information capacity of a stochastically responding neuron assembly

Abstract

In this work, certain aspects of the structure of the overlapping groups of neurons encoding specific signals are examined. Individual neurons are assumed to respond stochastically to input signal. Identification of a particular signal is assumed to result from the aggregate activity of a group of neurons, which we call information pathway. Conditions for definite response and for non-interference of pathways are derived. These conditions constrain the response properties of individual neurons and the allowed overlap among pathways. Under these constrains, and under the simplifying assumption that all pathways have similar structure, the information capacity of the system is derived. Furthermore, we show that there is a definite advantage in the information capacity if pathway neurons areinterspersed among the neuron assembly.