| In many contexts, neural processing occurs on short timescales and in response to complex, non-stationary inputs. Such transient conditions are a continuing challenge to understanding neural function. I will describe experimental work in the rodent vibrissa (whisker) tactile sensory system, in which inputs are typically brief and can show little trial to trial repeatability. I will compare this to modeling of neural oscillator entrainment to complex inputs, and suggest that cycle to cycle fluctuations in spike timing precision may be more significant than asymptotic behavior. These examples will be used to highlight issues in studying transient neural dynamics. |
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