Reliability of weak signals detection in neurons with noise

Previous experimental and theoretical studies have demonstrated that a weak signal can be amplified and optimized by the assistance of noise. The response of the system undergoes stochastic resonance (SR) like behavior. The underlying mechanisms are fairly simple and robust. This phenomenon has been observed in a large variety of systems, including physical and biological systems. In the nervous system, the majority of synaptic input is too weak to make neurons fire a spike. This weak (or subthreshold) signals detection is very important for animal survival, and pulse detection is a simple but basic task of neuronal information transmission and processing. Some studies have found that subthreshold signals can be transmitted by the application of external noise. However, neurons are subjected to various kinds of inherent noise. Recently, theoretical work has revealed that this inherent noise improves signals detection ability. The detection ability of a single neuron is limited, and the neuronal circuit can perform this task very well by detecting the synchronization of presynaptic potentials. Here, we review recent studies of subthreshold detection by both single neurons and neuronal circuits.