Estimates of distributed coding of visual objects by single neurons in the human brain depend on which spike sorting technique is used

Abstract

Abstract Objective. To determine whether the estimated fraction and degree of distribution of visual responsive neurons in human intracranial microwire recordings depends upon the spike sorting method used. Approach. A large dataset of human intracranial microwire recordings from four brain areas was sorted into single unit activity (SUA) and multiunit activity (MUA) using 4 spike sorting methods previously applied to this type of recording. The responses were examined for visual responses to 33 objects which were presented. Main results. The 4 spike sorting techniques examined here yielded fractions of responsive SUA varying from 8% in the left anterior cingulate cortex to 27% in the right amgdala. The fraction of responsive SUA and MUA depended on the type of spike sorting being used as well as brain area and side being recorded from. Agreement between spike sorting techniques was low (0.04–0.16 on the 0–1 AMIall scale). Significance. Prior estimates of the fraction of single neurons in the human medial temporal lobe coding semantic memory of visual objects have yielded fractions ranging from 0.04% by very strict response criteria to 47% by other criteria. A variety of explanations of these differences have been posited, including differences in the type of memory being tested, differences in visual stimuli, as well as technical differences such as spike sorting techniques. This study shows the dependence of the reported fraction of neurons encoding visual objects on the spike sorting technique employed and confirms a distributed representation of visual objects by single neurons in the human brain. Both the variation in the responsive fractions with spike sorting technique and low levels of agreement between techniques highlight the need for better understanding of the signals being extracted in human intracranial microwire recordings.