D-116
Deep neural networks for decoding behavioral information from in vivo neuronal spiking activity
Facundo Montiel1,2, Juan Ignacio Ponce1,3, Lucca Salomon1,4, Sol Ramos1,4, Noel Federman1, Antonia Marin-Burgin1, Sebastián A. Romano1
  1. Biomedicine Research Institute of Buenos Aires - CONICET - Partner Institute of the Max Planck Society
  2. Technological Institute of Buenos Aires (ITBA), Buenos Aires, Argentina
  3. University of Buenos Aires, Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences, Computer Science Department, Buenos Aires, Argentina
  4. University of Buenos Aires, Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences, PhD Program, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Presenting Author:
Facundo Montiel
ingfacundomontiel@gmail.com
Neuronal decoding is the process of using mathematical and computational techniques to interpret and extract meaningful information from measured brain activity, mapping brain responses back to the stimuli, behavioral and/or cognitive events. We provide an example of how deep neuronal networks can be trained to decode behavioral information latent in the spiking activity of neural populations. For this, we analyze neuronal activity in the primary olfactory cortex of a mouse trained in a behavioral task where associations of spatial locations and particular odors are linked to rewards. Using artificial dense feed-forward and recurrent neuronal networks, we could successfully decode the spatial location of the mouse and its running speed, trial by trial. Moreover, despite not being traditionally involved in spatial cognition, olfactory cortex decoding accuracy reached similar performance to decoding in the hippocampus, a well-known hub for spatial information. These results indicate that complex and multiplexed information is already present at early sensory processing stages, supporting a distributed and decentralized view of brain organization.