A unifying perspective on neural manifolds and circuits for cognition

Langdon, Christopher, Genkin, Mikhail, Engel, Tatiana A (April 2023) A unifying perspective on neural manifolds and circuits for cognition. Nature Reviews Neuroscience. ISSN 1471-003X

Abstract

Two different perspectives have informed efforts to explain the link between the brain and behaviour. One approach seeks to identify neural circuit elements that carry out specific functions, emphasizing connectivity between neurons as a substrate for neural computations. Another approach centres on neural manifolds - low-dimensional representations of behavioural signals in neural population activity - and suggests that neural computations are realized by emergent dynamics. Although manifolds reveal an interpretable structure in heterogeneous neuronal activity, finding the corresponding structure in connectivity remains a challenge. We highlight examples in which establishing the correspondence between low-dimensional activity and connectivity has been possible, unifying the neural manifold and circuit perspectives. This relationship is conspicuous in systems in which the geometry of neural responses mirrors their spatial layout in the brain, such as the fly navigational system. Furthermore, we describe evidence that, in systems in which neural responses are heterogeneous, the circuit comprises interactions between activity patterns on the manifold via low-rank connectivity. We suggest that unifying the manifold and circuit approaches is important if we are to be able to causally test theories about the neural computations that underlie behaviour.

Item Type: Paper
Subjects: organism description > animal behavior
organs, tissues, organelles, cell types and functions > organs types and functions > brain
organs, tissues, organelles, cell types and functions > cell types and functions > cell types
organs, tissues, organelles, cell types and functions > cell types and functions > cell types
organs, tissues, organelles, cell types and functions > cell types and functions > cell types
organs, tissues, organelles, cell types and functions > cell types and functions
organism description > animal behavior > perception > cognition
organs, tissues, organelles, cell types and functions > cell types and functions > cell types > neurons > neuronal circuits
organs, tissues, organelles, cell types and functions > cell types and functions > cell types > neurons > neuronal circuits
organs, tissues, organelles, cell types and functions > cell types and functions > cell types > neurons > neuronal circuits
organs, tissues, organelles, cell types and functions > cell types and functions > cell types > neurons
organs, tissues, organelles, cell types and functions > cell types and functions > cell types > neurons
organs, tissues, organelles, cell types and functions > cell types and functions > cell types > neurons
organs, tissues, organelles, cell types and functions
Publication Type > review
CSHL Authors:
Communities: CSHL labs > Engel lab
SWORD Depositor: CSHL Elements
Depositing User: CSHL Elements
Date: 13 April 2023
Date Deposited: 20 Apr 2023 13:35
Last Modified: 03 Jul 2024 16:09
PMCID: PMC11058347
Related URLs:
URI: https://repository.cshl.edu/id/eprint/40876

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