Correlations modulate the non-monotonic response of a neuron with short-term plasticity

The impact of synchronous inputs onto a simple neuron model with synapses showing short-term plasticity is studied. The synaptic model includes depression, stochastic release and facilitation. The mean and second-order statistics of the current are computed. The combination of synchrony and STP produces a non-monotonic behavior of the current variance sigma, while the mean mu saturates monotonically. Provided that mu saturates under threshold, the output rate inherits the resonant behavior of sigma, making the neuron respond maximally to a specific rate. Information about the input rate can be transmitted beyond the saturation of mu by means of sigma. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.