Recursive Sparse Point Process Regression with Application to Spectrotemporal Receptive Field Plasticity Analysis

We consider the problem of estimating the sparse time-varying parameter vectors of a point process model in an online fashion, where the observations and inputs respectively consist of binary and continuous time series. We construct a novel objective function by incorporating a forgetting factor mechanism into the point process log-likelihood to enforce adaptivity and employ $\ell_1$-regularization to capture the sparsity. We provide a rigorous analysis of the maximizers of the objective function, which extends the guarantees of compressed sensing to our setting. We construct two recursive filters for online estimation of the parameter vectors based on proximal optimization techniques, as well as a novel filter for recursive computation of statistical confidence regions. Simulation studies reveal that our algorithms outperform several existing point process filters in terms of trackability, goodness-of-fit and mean square error. We finally apply our filtering algorithms to experimentally recorded spiking data from the ferret primary auditory cortex during attentive behavior in a click rate discrimination task. Our analysis provides new insights into the time-course of the spectrotemporal receptive field plasticity of the auditory neurons

Neural Network and Multiple Linear Regression for Estimating Surface Albedo from ASTER Visible and Near-Infrared Spectral Bands

Abstract The current Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER)-based broadband albedo model requires shortwave infrared bands 5 (2.145–2.185 nm), 6 (2.185–2.225 nm), 8 (2.295–2.365 nm), and 9 (2.360–2.430 nm) and visible/near-infrared bands 1 (0.52–0.60 nm) and 3 (0.78–0.86 nm). However, because of sensor irregularities at high temperatures, shortwave infrared wavelengths are not recorded in the ASTER data acquired after April 2008. Therefore, this study seeks to evaluate the performance of artificial neural networks (ANN) in estimating surface albedo using visible/near-infrared bands available in the data obtained after April 2008. It also compares the outcomes with the results of multiple linear regression (MLR) modeling. First, the most influential spectral bands used in the current model as well as band 2 (0.63–0.69 nm) (which is also available after April 2008 in the visible/near-infrared part) were determined by a primary analysis of the data acquired before April 2008. Then, multiple linear regression and ANN models were developed by using bands with a relatively high level of contribution. The results showed that bands 1 and 3 were the most important spectral ones for estimating albedo where land cover consisted of soil and vegetation. These two bands were used as the study input, and the albedo (estimated through a model that utilized bands 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, and 9) served as a target to remodel albedo. Because of its high collinearity with band 1, band 2 was identified less effectively by MLR as well as ANN. The study confirmed that a combination of bands 1 and 3, which are available in the current ASTER data, could be modeled through ANN and MLR to estimate surface albedo. However, because of its higher accuracy, ANN method was superior to MLR in developing objective functions.</jats:p

Parallel Processing of Sound Dynamics across Mouse Auditory Cortex via Spatially Patterned Thalamic Inputs and Distinct Areal Intracortical Circuits

Summary: Natural sounds have rich spectrotemporal dynamics. Spectral information is spatially represented in the auditory cortex (ACX) via large-scale maps. However, the representation of temporal information, e.g., sound offset, is unclear. We perform multiscale imaging of neuronal and thalamic activity evoked by sound onset and offset in awake mouse ACX. ACX areas differed in onset responses (On-Rs) and offset responses (Off-Rs). Most excitatory L2/3 neurons show either On-Rs or Off-Rs, and ACX areas are characterized by differing fractions of On and Off-R neurons. Somatostatin and parvalbumin interneurons show distinct temporal dynamics, potentially amplifying Off-Rs. Functional network analysis shows that ACX areas contain distinct parallel onset and offset networks. Thalamic (MGB) terminals show either On-Rs or Off-Rs, indicating a thalamic origin of On and Off-R pathways. Thus, ACX areas spatially represent temporal features, and this representation is created by spatial convergence and co-activation of distinct MGB inputs and is refined by specific intracortical connectivity. : Using multiscale imaging of mouse auditory cortices, Liu et al. found that the offset response is tonotopically organized and spatially extensive across auditory fields, while A1 L2/3 pyramidal neurons process tone onset and offset in parallel networks. The offset response is amplified by differential convergence of thalamic input and intracortical processing involving interneurons. Keywords: auditory cortex, mouse, temporal, pattern, MGB, two-photon imagin