Neural signalling of probabilistic vectors

TY - JOUR

T1 - Neural signalling of probabilistic vectors

AU - Shea, Nicholas

N1 - Publisher permits uploading of author-generated pre-print (including the notices found in the attached pdf).

PY - 2014/12

Y1 - 2014/12

N2 - Recent work combining cognitive neuroscience with computational modelling suggests that distributed patterns of neural firing may represent probability distributions. This paper asks: what makes it the case that distributed patterns of firing, as well as carrying information about (correlating with) probability distributions over worldly parameters, represent such distributions? In examples of probabilistic population coding, it is the way information is used in downstream processing so as to lead to successful behaviour. In these cases content depends on factors beyond bare information, contra Brian Skyrms’ (2010) view that representational content can be fully characterised in information-theoretic terms.

AB - Recent work combining cognitive neuroscience with computational modelling suggests that distributed patterns of neural firing may represent probability distributions. This paper asks: what makes it the case that distributed patterns of firing, as well as carrying information about (correlating with) probability distributions over worldly parameters, represent such distributions? In examples of probabilistic population coding, it is the way information is used in downstream processing so as to lead to successful behaviour. In these cases content depends on factors beyond bare information, contra Brian Skyrms’ (2010) view that representational content can be fully characterised in information-theoretic terms.

U2 - 10.1086/678354

DO - 10.1086/678354

M3 - Article

SN - 0031-8248

VL - 81

SP - 902

EP - 913

JO - PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE

JF - PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE

IS - 5

ER -