What is cosine tuning in neuroscience?

AI Thread Summary
Cosine tuning is a concept related to neural coding that involves predicting the responses of neurons based on the angles of their preferred stimuli. It is particularly relevant in understanding how certain clusters of neurons react to specific movements or stimuli, such as those observed in simians. The discussion references several academic sources, including a Wikipedia article and research papers that delve into the mechanics and implications of cosine tuning in neural responses. The inquiry also touches on the relationship between cosine tuning and sensory physiology, specifically in hearing, while inviting further discussion on its applicability to other senses. The participants express interest in the validity of the research and its potential solutions within the context of sensory processing.
quicksilver123
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Hi,

I've been listening to the podcast "Neuroscientists Talk Shop" and heard some participants repeatedly refer to something called "cosine tuning" in relation to predicting the efferent reactions to certain clusters of neurons (e.g. a simian moving in a certain way).
[sorry if that's obtusely phrased]

Could someone break down the concept of cosine tuning?
 
Biology news on Phys.org
and this beast here:

http://homes.cs.washington.edu/~todorov/papers/cosine.pdf
 
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Excellent! Do you concur with the research and the researchers? Is their SSI cosine tuning a solution? My understanding comes from the physiology of hearing. Is your interest stemming from one of the other senses?
Thank you for the links.
 

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