Plos iconPlosSep 15, 2026 ~1 min source read

Inferring effective neuronal circuits via network flux counting

Standard inference methods, such as Generalized Linear Models (GLMs), typically regress for parameters on all neuronal activity at once. Such a global fitting approach can face identifiability difficulties—for example, where the statistical estimation of strong, opposing weights becomes ill-conditioned in excitatory-inhibitory balanced networks.

Inferring effective neuronal circuits via network flux counting

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Standard inference methods, such as Generalized Linear Models (GLMs), typically regress for parameters on all neuronal activity at once.

Additionally, when combined with Maximum Caliber to construct a minimal dynamical model, the framework better captures temporal statistics—such as inter-spike intervals—than Maximum Entropy models.

Such a global fitting approach can face identifiability difficulties—for example, where the statistical estimation of strong, opposing weights becomes ill-conditioned in excitatory-inhibitory balanced networks.

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The useful part

Standard inference methods, such as Generalized Linear Models (GLMs), typically regress for parameters on all neuronal activity at once. Such a global fitting approach can face identifiability difficulties—for example, where the statistical estimation of strong, opposing weights becomes ill-conditioned in excitatory-inhibitory balanced networks. Here, we introduce FLux-based Effective Coupling (FLEC), a framework that maps spike trains directly to probability fluxes on network state space.

How it works

  • Instead of enforcing a single global fit, FLEC infers connectivity and response heterogeneity by quantifying transition rates for each network configuration independently.
  • We demonstrate that FLEC outperforms GLMs and Granger Causality in strongly coupled networks while matching GLM's performance in standard regimes.
  • Additionally, when combined with Maximum Caliber to construct a minimal dynamical model, the framework better captures temporal statistics—such as inter-spike intervals—than Maximum Entropy models.

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