A comparison of methods used to detect changes in neuronal discharge patterns

Abstract

The discharge pattern of two thalamic neurones was recorded from a conscious monkey performing voluntary movements about the wrist joint. The neuronal discharge was displayed as a raster centred on movement of the wrist. The discharge patterns of both neurones was very strongly correlated with movement. Three experienced researchers were asked to examine the data and to classify every part of each trial as background discharge, 'on' (increased firing rate) or 'off' (decreased or zero firing rate) and to mark the times that neuronal discharge changed state. A 'standard output' was made from these classifications A back-propagation artificial Neural Network (the Network) was used to model the ..