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bioRxiv · 10.1101/334797

Disinhibition as a canonical neural mechanism for flexible behavior

Standage, D.·Pare, M.·Blohm, G.
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Abstract

Flexibility is a hallmark of human and animal behavior, but the context-dependent neural computations that generate flexible behavior are poorly understood. Here, we use a biophysically-based cortical network model to explore the hypothesis that vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) expressing inhibitory interneurons control local circuit dynamics by targeting other classes of inhibitory interneuron, supporting context-dependent computations. Depending on the strength of this disinhibition (simulating VIP activity), network dynamics support multiple-item working memory (WM, strong disinhibition) or decision making (DM, weak disinhibition). Within these regimes, disinhibition controls WM capacity and speedaccuracy-trade-off in choice behavior. Our findings suggest that long-range trans-cortical VIP-mediated disinhibition is a canonical neural mechanism for the top-down control of flexible behavior.

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Standage, D., Pare, M., Blohm, G.. 2018-05-30. Disinhibition as a canonical neural mechanism for flexible behavior. https://doi.org/10.1101/334797

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