Interference-Free Propagation: Achieving Reliable Signal Propagation in Cortical Networks with Areal-Specific Local Dynamics

In cortical networks, how to simultaneously achieve both reliable inter-areal signal propagation and areal-specific local dynamics remains largely unclear. In general, strong connections between areas enhance signal propagation, but blend timescales of area-specific neuronal activity, whereas weak connections have the opposite effect. Here we identify a novel dynamical regime termed "interference-free propagation" (IFP) that reconciles the two contrasting demands in the cortex. In the IFP regime, mean signals from upstream areas can propagate reliably, but fluctuations indicative of upstream areas timescales are filtered out. This result provides new insights into the operational regime of the cortex, leading to the coexistence of reliable signal propagation and the distinct property of local temporal integration of information in the cortical network.