Cortical decision-making with non-equilibrium steady state activity

Speakers: Jochen Braun (Otto-von-Guericke University)

Abstract: Sensory perception continually searches for interpretable structure in a dynamic world. How does the sensory cortex of primates make these perceptual decisions rapidly and reliably? In contrast to current theories that invoke equilibrium dynamics and assume stable decision states, and predict no post-choice events, I propose that the basic mechanism is non-equilibrium steady state activity, which leads to decision states that become unstable at the moment of choice, initiate transitions to subsequent decisions, and ensure updates even without new input. Non-equilibrium steady state (NESS) activity can perform well in episodic choice tasks about visual motion, as investigated with non-human primates. In continuous decision-making tasks posed by simple dynamic environments, NESS activity can asymptotically match the performance of optimal Bayesian formalisms. I conclude that cortical activity and function may be governed by non-equilibrium statistical physics, possibly at the mesoscopic level of cortical columns.  

https://indico.phys.hawaii.edu/event/2676/