Flexible Control of Mutual Inhibition: A Neural Model of Two-Interval Discrimination.

Networks adapt to environmental demands by switching betweendistinct dynamical behaviors. The activity of frontal-lobe neuronsduring two-interval discrimination tasks is an example of theseadaptable dynamics. Subjects first perceive a stimulus, then hold it inworking memory, and finally make a decision by comparing it with asecond stimulus. We present a simple mutualinhibition network model thatcaptures all three task phases within a single framework. The modelintegrates both working memory and decision making because its dynamicalproperties are easily controlled without changing its connectivity.Mutual inhibition between nonlinear units is a useful design motif fornetworks that must display multiple behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]