Latent state-space models for neural decoding

Annu Int Conf IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc. 2014:2014:3033-6. doi: 10.1109/EMBC.2014.6944262.

Abstract

Ensembles of single-neurons in motor cortex can show strong low-dimensional collective dynamics. In this study, we explore an approach where neural decoding is applied to estimated low-dimensional dynamics instead of to the full recorded neuronal population. A latent state-space model (SSM) approach is used to estimate the low-dimensional neural dynamics from the measured spiking activity in population of neurons. A second state-space model representation is then used to decode kinematics, via a Kalman filter, from the estimated low-dimensional dynamics. The latent SSM-based decoding approach is illustrated on neuronal activity recorded from primary motor cortex in a monkey performing naturalistic 3-D reach and grasp movements. Our analysis show that 3-D reach decoding performance based on estimated low-dimensional dynamics is comparable to the decoding performance based on the full recorded neuronal population.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Hand Strength / physiology
  • Haplorhini
  • Models, Neurological*
  • Models, Theoretical
  • Motor Cortex / physiology*
  • Movement / physiology
  • Nerve Net / physiology
  • Neurons / physiology