How do neurons encode information about stimuli? This paper explores the relationship between mutual information and Fisher information in the context of population coding. The study interprets the link between these concepts within information theory, demonstrating that the mutual information between neuronal activity and a stimulus is naturally related to the Fisher information. The results have implications for understanding efficient coding strategies and optimizing the parameters of tuning curves in neural populations responding to angular variables. This research advances our understanding of neural coding and its relationship to information theory.
Published in Neural Computation, this research aligns with the journal's focus on computational and theoretical aspects of neuroscience. The study's exploration of mutual information, Fisher information, and population coding directly contributes to the journal's emphasis on mathematical and computational models of neural systems and their ability to process information. The research offers valuable insights into how neural systems encode and transmit information about stimuli.