[Comp-neuro] Discussion of "noise benefits" and stochastic resonance in biology: new PLoS review paper

[Mark McDonnell]

Dear Colleagues,

A new review/essay paper on stochastic resonance and its biological relevance has been published in PLoS Computational Biology:

McDonnell MD,  Abbott D, 2009 What Is Stochastic Resonance? Definitions, Misconceptions, Debates, and Its Relevance to Biology. PLoS Computational Biology 5(5):e1000348. doi:10.1371/journal.pcbi.1000348  

URL: http://www.ploscompbiol.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1000348

Comments or discussion are most welcome (mark.mcdonnell at unisa.edu.au)

Abstract: 

Stochastic resonance is said to be observed when increases in levels of unpredictable fluctuations-e.g., random noise-cause an increase in a metric of the quality of signal transmission or detection performance, rather than a decrease. This counterintuitive effect relies on system nonlinearities and on some parameter ranges being "suboptimal." Stochastic resonance has been observed, quantified, and described in a plethora of physical and biological systems, including neurons. Being a topic of widespread multidisciplinary interest, the definition of stochastic resonance has evolved significantly over the last decade or so, leading to a number of debates, misunderstandings, and controversies. Perhaps the most important debate is whether the brain has evolved to utilize random noise in vivo, as part of the "neural code." Surprisingly, this debate has been for the most part ignored by neuroscientists, despite much indirect evidence of a positive role for noise in the brain. We explore some of the reasons for this and argue why it would be more surprising if the brain did not exploit randomness provided by noise-via stochastic resonance or otherwise-than if it did. We also challenge neuroscientists and biologists, both computational and experimental, to embrace a very broad definition of stochastic resonance in terms of signal-processing "noise benefits," and to devise experiments aimed at verifying that random variability can play a functional role in the brain, nervous system, or other areas of biology.

Regards

Dr Mark McDonnell

Research Fellow

University of South Australia
SPRI Building
Mawson Lakes Boulevard
Mawson Lakes SA 5095 AUSTRALIA

Phone: +61 8 8302 3341 
Fax: +61 8 8302 3817

URL:  http://people.unisa.edu.au/Mark.McDonnell
Email: mark.mcdonnell at unisa.edu.au

Now Available: "Stochastic Resonance: From Suprathreshold Stochastic Resonance to Stochastic Signal Quantization"
Mark D. McDonnell, Nigel G. Stocks, Charles E. M. Pearce, Derek Abbott

For more information see www.cambridge.org/9780521882620 
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