Transitions between spatial attractors in place-cell networks

R Monasson (1) , S Rosay (1)

1 LPTENS - Laboratoire de Physique Théorique de l'ENS [École Normale Supérieure]

The spontaneous transitions between D-dimensional spatial maps in an attractor neural network are studied. Two scenarios for the transition from on map to another are found, depending on the level of noise: (1) through a mixed state, partly localized in both maps around positions where the maps are most similar; (2) through a weakly localized state in one of the two maps, followed by a condensation in the arrival map. Our predictions are confirmed by numerical simulations, and qualitatively compared to recent recordings of hippocampal place cells during quick-environment-changing experiments in rats.

Mots clés: place cells; continuous attractors; Phase transitions

Domaines: Mécanique statistique [cond-mat.stat-mech]; Sciences du Vivant [q-bio]

R Monasson, S Rosay. Transitions between spatial attractors in place-cell networks. 2015. ⟨hal-01178814⟩