Loading [MathJax]/extensions/TeX/ieeemacros.js
Internal Feedback in Biological Control: Locality and System Level Synthesis | IEEE Conference Publication | IEEE Xplore

Internal Feedback in Biological Control: Locality and System Level Synthesis

Publisher: IEEE

Abstract:

The presence of internal feedback pathways (IFPs) is a prevalent yet unexplained phenomenon in the brain. Motivated by experimental observations on 1) motor-related signa...View more

Abstract:

The presence of internal feedback pathways (IFPs) is a prevalent yet unexplained phenomenon in the brain. Motivated by experimental observations on 1) motor-related signals in visual areas, and 2) massively distributed processing in the brain, we approach this problem from a sensorimotor standpoint and make use of distributed optimal controllers to explain IFPs. We use the System Level Synthesis (SLS) controller to model neural phenomena such as signaling delay, local processing, and local reaction. Based on the SLS controller, we make qualitative predictions about IFPs that strongly align with existing experimental observations. We introduce a ‘mesocircuit’ for optimal performance with distributed and local processing, and local disturbance rejection; this mesocircuit requires extreme amounts of IFPs and memory for proper function. This is the first theory that replicates the massive amounts of IFPs in the brain purely from a priori principles, providing a new theoretical basis upon which we can build to better understand the inner workings of the brain.
Date of Conference: 08-10 June 2022
Date Added to IEEE Xplore: 05 September 2022
ISBN Information:

ISSN Information:

Publisher: IEEE
Conference Location: Atlanta, GA, USA

I. Introduction

The primate visual pathway propagates visual input from the eye to the brain. Information travels from the retina in the eye to the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN), then to the primary visual area (V1) in the cortex, secondary visual area (V2), and so on. However, massive amounts of connections in the reverse direction (i.e. internal feedback pathways, or IFPs) are also observed, as shown in Fig. 1. These connections are known by a variety of names in neuroscientific literature, including descending feedback, predictive feedback, reciprocal connections, and recurrence. Feedback is well-documented but poorly understood [3]–[5]; understanding the purpose of this mechanism is invaluable to understanding overall circuit function in the visual system.

References

References is not available for this document.