Learning-based Approaches for Controlling Neural Spiking

Sensen Liu, Noah M. Sock, Shinung Ching

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

We consider the problem of controlling populations of interconnected neurons using extrinsic stimulation. Such a problem, which is relevant to applications in both basic neuroscience as well as brain medicine, is challenging due to the nonlinearity of neuronal dynamics and the highly unpredictable structure of underlying neuronal networks. Compounding this difficulty is the fact that most neurostimulation technologies offer a single degree of freedom to actuate tens to hundreds of interconnected neurons. To meet these challenges, here we consider an adaptive, learning-based approach to controlling neural spike trains. Rather than explicitly modeling neural dynamics and designing optimal controls, we instead synthesize a so-called control network (CONET) that interacts with the spiking network by maximizing the Shannon mutual information between it and the realized spiking outputs. Thus, the CONET learns a representation of the spiking network that subsequently allows it to learn suitable control signals through a reinforcement-type mechanism. We demonstrate feasibility of the approach by controlling networks of stochastic spiking neurons, wherein desired patterns are induced for neuron-to-actuator ratios in excess of 10 to 1.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication2018 Annual American Control Conference, ACC 2018
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Pages2827-2832
Number of pages6
ISBN (Print)9781538654286
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 9 2018
Event2018 Annual American Control Conference, ACC 2018 - Milwauke, United States
Duration: Jun 27 2018Jun 29 2018

Publication series

NameProceedings of the American Control Conference
Volume2018-June
ISSN (Print)0743-1619

Conference

Conference2018 Annual American Control Conference, ACC 2018
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityMilwauke
Period06/27/1806/29/18

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