The virtual dogfish: An environment for modelling neural computations in cerebellar-like circuitry of the elasmobranch electrosensory system

Abstract We have developed a three-dimensional image of a dogfish electrosensory system using MATLAB graphics objects. Computational models of electroreceptors and electrosensory neurons are attached to the corresponding graphical objects. Response properties of virtual electrosensory neurons are matched to response properties of real electrosensory neurons using system identification. Electrical potentials measured by the electroreceptors are computed as a virtual prey stimulus moves. The spatial-temporal pattern of sensory spikes generated by the model mimics the pattern received by the dorsal octavolateral nucleus (DON) of the real dogfish. This provides a realistic environment for developing and testing computational models of sensory processing in the cerebellar-like circuitry of the DON.

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