Temporal coding

Temporal coding is a neuroscientific theory that proposes the brain represents information by the timing of neuronal action potentials. This theory contrasts with rate coding, which suggests information is encoded in the average firing rate of neurons.

Overview

Temporal coding is based on the idea that neurons can generate precisely timed sequences of action potentials or "spikes" in response to a stimulus. This precise timing of spikes is thought to convey additional information beyond the simple number of spikes generated. Temporal coding is often associated with the coding of sensory information, particularly in the auditory and visual systems.

Mechanisms

Temporal coding can occur through several mechanisms. One mechanism is spike-timing-dependent plasticity (STDP), where the timing of pre- and post-synaptic spikes determines the change in synaptic strength. Another mechanism is phase-of-firing coding, where the timing of a neuron's spikes relative to the phase of an ongoing oscillation carries information.

Evidence

Evidence for temporal coding comes from a variety of sources. For example, in the auditory system, the timing of spikes can encode the pitch of a sound. In the visual system, the timing of spikes can encode the orientation of a visual stimulus. However, the role of temporal coding in information processing in the brain is still a topic of ongoing research and debate.

See also

• Neural coding
• Spike timing dependent plasticity
• Phase-of-firing coding
• Rate coding

References

Temporal coding Resources
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