Adaptation modulates correlated subthreshold response variability in visual cortex

Abstract

Correlated response variability has profound implications for stimulus encoding, yet our understanding of this phenomenon is based largely on spike data. Here, we investigate the dynamics and mechanisms of membrane potential-correlated variability (CC) in visual cortex with a combined experimental and computational approach. We observe a visually evoked increase in CC, followed by a fast return to baseline. Our results further suggest a link between this observation and the adaptation-mediated dynamics of emergent network phenomena.