Codes and Goalsof Neuronal RepresentationsMatthias BethgeUniversita¨t Bremen 2003Codes and Goalsof Neuronal RepresentationsVom Fachbereich fur Physik und Elektrotechnik¨der Universita¨t Bremenzur Erlangung des akademischen GradesDoktor der Naturwissenschaften— Dr. rer. nat. —genehmigte DissertationvonMatthias Bethgeaus Wolfsburg1. Gutachter: Prof. Dr. Klaus Pawelzik2. Gutachter: Prof. Dr. Helmut SchweglerEingereicht am: 17.09.2003Tag des Promotionskolloquiums: 13.10.2003To my kidsYara Lena and Leon JosseviviiAuthor: Matthias BethgeTitle: Codes and Goals of Neuronal RepresentationsKeywords: Neural code, population coding, efficient coding, population dynamics, rate coding,faithful signal transmissionPACS: 89.90.+n Other topics of general interest for physicists – 02.50.Ey Stochastic processes –84.35.+i Neural networks 02.60.Pn Numerical optimization – 05.45.Tp Time series analysis–Abstract: Whenever one draws conclusions from data of neuronal activity about its function forsensory processing and generating behavior, one inevitably has to hypothesize about theneural code. Moreover, most specifications of the neural code cannot be justified by datafor principle reasons. Therefore, it is important to strive for descriptions of neural codes,which make their underlying assumptions as transparent as possible.