Spike-time reliability of periodically driven integrate-and-fire neurons

The response of model neurons driven by a periodic current converges onto mode-locked attractors. Reliability, defined as the noise stability of the attractor, was studied as a function of the drive frequency and noise strength. For weak noise, the neuron remained on one attractor and reliability was high. For intermediate noise strength, transitions between attractors occurred. For strong noise, mode locking became unstable. The attractor was most stable for frequencies for which the neuron produced one spike on each cycle. The prediction of a reliability resonance as a function of drive frequency has been observed in vitro in cortical neurons. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.