Velocity coupling of grid cell modules enables stable embedding of a low dimensional variable in a high dimensional neural attractor

Noga Mosheiff, Yoram Burak*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

Grid cells in the medial entorhinal cortex (MEC) encode position using a distributed representation across multiple neural populations (modules), each possessinga distinct spatial scale. The modular structure of the representation confers the grid cell neural code with large capacity. Yet, the modularity poses significant challenges for the neural circuitry that maintains the representation, and updates it based on self motion. Small incompatible drifts in different modules, driven by noise, can rapidly lead to large, abrupt shifts in the represented position, resulting in catastrophic readout errors. Here we propose a theoretical model of coupled modules. The coupling suppresses incompatible drifts, allowing for a stable embedding of a two dimensional variable (position) in a higher dimensional neural attractor, while preserving the large capacity. We propose that coupling of this type may be implemented by recurrent synaptic connectivity within the MEC with a relatively simple and biologically plausible structure.

Original languageAmerican English
Article numbere48494
JournaleLife
Volume8
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2019

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This research was supported by the I srael Science Foundation grant No. 1745/18 and (in part) by grant No. 1978/13. We acknowledge support from the Gatsby Charitable Foundation, and from the Dalia and Dan Maydan Fellowship (NM).

Funding Information:
This research was supported by the Israel Science Foundation grant No. 1745/18 and (in part) by grant No. 1978/13. We acknowledge support from the Gatsby Charitable Foundation, and from theDalia and Dan Maydan Fellowship (NM).

Publisher Copyright:
© 2019, eLife Sciences Publications Ltd. All rights reserved.

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