Constraining inference of across-region interactions using neural activity perturbations

Abstract

Functional interactions between brain regions are often inferred from multi-region models fit to neural activity recorded in behaving animals. Here, we show that inference of acrossregion interactions is hindered by the wide breadth of model fits consistent with naturally occurring neural activity. In contrast, models fit to activity that includes region-wide activity perturbations provide well-constrained estimates of across-region interactions; simulations suggest these estimates can be accurate.