On the use of information theory for the analysis of the relationship between neural and imaging signals

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is a widely used method for studying the neural basis of cognition and of sensory function. A potential problem in the interpretation of fMRI data is that fMRI measures neural activity only indirectly, as a local change of deoxyhemoglobin concentration due to the metabolic demands of neural function. To build correct sensory and cognitive maps in the human brain, it is thus crucial to understand whether fMRI and neural activity convey the same type of information about external correlates. While a substantial experimental effort has been devoted to the simultaneous recordings of hemodynamic and neural signals, so far, the development of analysis methods that elucidate how neural and hemodynamic signals represent sensory information has received less attention. In this article, we critically review why the analytical framework of information theory, the mathematical theory of communication, is ideally suited to this purpose. We review the principles of information theory and explain how they could be applied to the analysis of fMRI and neural signals. We show that a critical advantage of information theory over more traditional analysis paradigms commonly used in the fMRI literature is that it can elucidate, within a single framework, whether an empirically observed correlation between neural and fMRI signals reflects either a similar stimulus tuning or a common source of variability unrelated to the external stimuli. In addition, information theory determines the extent to which these shared sources of stimulus signal and of variability lead fMRI and neural signals to convey similar information about external correlates. We then illustrate the formalism by applying it to the analysis of the information carried by different bands of the local field potential. We conclude by discussing the current methodological challenges that need to be addressed to make the information-theoretic approach more robustly applicable to the simultaneous recordings of neural and imaging data.     

Coupling of neural activity and fMRI-BOLD in the motion area MT

The fMRI-BOLD contrast is widely used to study the neural basis of sensory perception and cognition. This signal, however, reflects neural activity only indirectly, and the detailed mechanisms of neurovascular coupling and the neurophysiological correlates of the BOLD signal remain debated. Here we investigate the coupling of BOLD and electrophysiological signals in the motion area MT of the macaque monkey by simultaneously recording both signals. Our results demonstrate that a prominent neuronal response property of area MT, so-called motion opponency, can be used to induce dissociations of BOLD and neuronal firing. During the presentation of a stimulus optimally driving the local neurons, both field potentials [local field potentials (LFPs)] and spiking activity [multi-unit activity (MUA)] correlated with the BOLD signal. When introducing the motion opponency stimulus, however, correlations of MUA with BOLD were much reduced, and LFPs were a much better predictor of the BOLD signal than MUA. In addition, for a subset of recording sites we found positive BOLD and LFP responses in the presence of decreases in MUA, regardless of the stimulus used. Together, these results demonstrate that correlations between BOLD and MUA are dependent on the particular site and stimulus paradigm, and foster the notion that the fMRI-BOLD signal reflects local dendrosomatic processing and synaptic activity rather than principal neuron spiking responses.     

Temperature dependence of the exchange coupling in CO/SI(or Ge)/Fe trilayers

The temperature dependences of interfacial exchange coupling in Co/semiconductor (SM)/Fe trilayers (SM≡Si or Ge) with different spacer thicknesses are investigated. Only one step is found in the third (not in the first) quadrant of the hysteresis loop of the trilayers with different SM thicknesses, which is ascribed to a larger interfacial coupling strength of Co/CoGe (or Co/CoSi) than of Fe/FeGe (or Fe/FeSi). Furthermore, in comparison with Co/Ge/Fe, a smaller exchange bias field H_E and no clear step are observed in Co/Si/Fe, which may originate from the weaker interfacial coupling in this trilayer. The variation of coercivity H_C with spacer thickness at low temperatures in Co/Ge/Fe is different from that in Co/Si/Fe, indicating again the important effect of the SM layer in the trilayers.     

光场与V型三能级原子依赖强度耦合系统场熵的演化特性

研究了光场与V型三能级原子依赖强度耦合系统场熵的演化特性,讨论了单光子跃迁失谐量和初始光子数对场熵演化的影响. 研究结果表明,当失谐量比较小且初始光场较弱时,场熵的时间演化行为与单光子Jaynes-Cummings模型相似; 当失谐量足够大或初始光场足够强时,场熵的时间演化表现出类似于双光子Jaynes-Cummings模型中场熵演化的周期性.     

耦合二能级原子与光场相互作用系统中场熵的演化

利用T-C模型研究了耦合二能级原子与相干态光场相互作用系统中场熵的演化规律,数值计算结果表明:场熵的演化受原子间耦合强度和光场初始平均光子数的变化的影响.     

线圈炮电枢电磁-热耦合仿真分析

从麦克斯韦方程组和导热微分方程出发,导出了3维多级感应线圈炮电磁场、温度场分布的基本方程,并以电磁场和温度场有限元分析为基础,建立了3维有限元分析模型,忽略级间的相互影响,多级线圈炮中电枢温升可以等效为多个单级电枢的温升,运用通用有限元分析软件ANSYS的耦合计算流程,对单级感应线圈炮中电枢电磁场和温度场进行仿真。计算中考虑了材料物理参数随温度变化对温度场的影响。仿真结果表明：电枢内的温升主要分布在电枢的外表面和尾部;电枢的温度随着电容器组电压和电容增加而升高,这是因为总能量增大,电枢中涡流也增大,从而电枢的温度升高;电枢的触发位置和速度匹配关系,也会对电枢温升造成很大的影响;电枢的温度随着级数的增加逐渐升高,说明电枢在一定级数后达到了材料的熔点而被破坏。     

线圈炮电枢电磁-热耦合仿真分析

 从麦克斯韦方程组和导热微分方程出发,导出了3维多级感应线圈炮电磁场、温度场分布的基本方程,并以电磁场和温度场有限元分析为基础,建立了3维有限元分析模型,忽略级间的相互影响,多级线圈炮中电枢温升可以等效为多个单级电枢的温升,运用通用有限元分析软件ANSYS的耦合计算流程,对单级感应线圈炮中电枢电磁场和温度场进行仿真。计算中考虑了材料物理参数随温度变化对温度场的影响。仿真结果表明：电枢内的温升主要分布在电枢的外表面和尾部;电枢的温度随着电容器组电压和电容增加而升高,这是因为总能量增大,电枢中涡流也增大,从而电枢的温度升高;电枢的触发位置和速度匹配关系,也会对电枢温升造成很大的影响;电枢的温度随着级数的增加逐渐升高,说明电枢在一定级数后达到了材料的熔点而被破坏。     

A field method for integrating the equations of motion of mechanico--electrical coupling dynamical systems

A field method for integrating the equations of motion for mechanico-electrical coupling dynamical systems is studied. Two examples in mechanico-electrical engineering are given to illustrate this method.     

变耦合系数的简并拉曼耦合J-C模型中场熵的演化

研究了考虑耦合系数随时间线形变化的简并拉曼耦合J-C模型中场熵随时间演化特性,分析了耦合系数变化的快慢和不同的初始光场对场熵的影响。结果表明:(1)无论光场初始态如何,场熵均呈周期性演化,平均光子数n-的增加并不改变场熵演化周期的大小;(2)初始光场统计性质的不同对最大场熵值和最大场熵值变化的幅度产生较大的影响;(3)线形调制使场熵呈现的完美周期性振荡遭到破坏。当原子-场耦合系数变化缓慢时,原子进入统计混合态的速度被减缓;而当原子-场耦合系数变化较快时,则不仅使场熵演化曲线的振荡周期逐渐减小、振荡频率越来越快,而且使原子与场退纠缠的时刻增多。     

运动原子与光场依赖强度纠缠下最佳熵压缩态的制备和控制

运用量子信息熵理论,研究了运动二能级原子与光场依赖强度纠缠下最佳熵压缩态的制备和控制;比较了分别从基于信息熵不确定关系和海森堡不确定关系出发得出的结果;分析了制备原子最佳熵压缩态的充要条件,并进行了数值验证.考察了场模结构参数对最佳熵压缩态的影响.结果表明,信息熵压缩是对原子压缩效应的高灵敏量度;控制原子与场的相互作用时间,斩断原子和场的纠缠,选择原子的相干性,调节系统的相对位相可制备原子最佳熵压缩态;控制场模结构参数,可获得持续的原子最佳熵压缩态. 关键词： 依赖强度耦合 场模结构参数 最佳熵压缩态     

模糊随机参数二维声场数值计算

解决声场参数同时具有模糊性和随机性的问题,实现模糊随机声场声压响应的预测,引入了信息熵理论,利用信息熵的等效转换,将模糊随机声场转化为纯随机声场或者纯模糊声场进行求解,推导了基于摄动法的二维随机声场和模糊声场的有限元计算公式。以模糊随机参数下的二维管道声场模型和某轿车二维声腔模型为例进行了数值计算,所得结果与蒙特卡洛法(Monte Carlo Method)所预测声压变化范围基本一致,同时,转化为纯随机声场和纯模糊声场所求得声压响应变化范围也基本一致,说明了本文方法计算结果的准确性。因此本文方法能很好地应用于模糊随机参数下二维声场的预测,具有重要的工程应用价值。     

非均匀多导体传输线高频场线耦合分析中的边界条件

场线耦合问题是电磁兼容分析与电磁效应评估中的重要课题。经典场线耦合模型受限于准TEM波近似,在较高频率时将导致不可接受的模型误差。传输线超理论（TLST）建立了高频场线耦合模型,解决了经典场线耦合模型的困难。基于TLST介绍了非均匀多导体传输线的高频场线耦合模型,提出了三种不同终端负载情况下对应边界条件的设置方法。最后通过具体算例对比了高频模型和经典模型以及全波分析计算结果,证实了高频场线耦合模型的普遍适用性、边界条件设置的有效性和数值实现过程的准确性。     

Effect of electron–ion coupling on the electric microfield distribution in plasmas

The electronic and ionic effective potential of a fully ionized hydrogen plasma containing an impurity of electric charge (+Z _m e ) are calculated in a two‐component plasma model under semiclassical conditions using classical statistical mechanics with a regularized electron–ion interaction. These effective potentials are coupled in a system of nonlinear integral equations (or coupled differential equations), which is solved numerically with two methods, namely the fixed‐point method and the Runge–Kutta method. The Baranger–Moser electric microfield distributions are calculated and compared with those from molecular dynamics simulation. Agreement between theory and simulation is satisfactory, in general.     

板厚对无障薄板声辐射特性影响的分析

分析无障薄板的声辐射特性时通常忽略板厚对格林函数的影响而采用双层势计算.本文考虑板厚引起的声辐射阻抗,采用混合势计算结构表面声压与振速,并分析板厚对声辐射参数的影响。根据交界相容性条件,采用边界积分方程分别表示平板上下表面的声压和振速,并合并同类项.进一步将结构的动力方程代入混合势形式的振速方程中,离散声压差值和板的位移为振动模态叠加的形式,获得二重积分形式的声辐射阻抗,从而求解振动模态系数,确定声辐射特性参数.以水下简支矩形板为例计算对比了声辐射参数,并讨论了其对板厚的敏感性。结果表明:板厚引起的声辐射阻抗对声辐射参数的大小影响较小,但随着频率的增加致使共振频率发生较大偏移;在相同阶数的共振频率范围内,板厚度越大,采用双层势计算的误差越大。     

囚禁离子非线性Jaynes-Cummings模型量子场熵演化特性

利用VonNeuuman量子约化熵理论研究了驻波激光场与囚禁在谐振势中的离子单量子共振相互作用系统中量子场熵的时间演化特性,通过数值计算详细讨论了Lamb-Dick参数、离子质心在驻波激光场中的位置以及囚禁离子初始状态对量子场熵演化特性的影响.结果表明:Lamb-Dick参数影响囚禁离子与驻波激光场之间量子纠缠的频率和幅度,其值越大离子与光场之间的平均纠缠程度越低;随着离子质心从驻波激光场的波节向波腹移动,二者之间量子纠缠的振荡频率逐渐变慢,纠缠强度逐渐减弱;随着囚禁离子处于激发态概率的减小,离子与光场之间的量子纠缠呈现先增强后减弱的变化趋势.这些特性对于纠缠态的制备以及利用囚禁离子进行量子通讯等信息处理过程有一定的参考价值.     

六极子磁场中自旋轨道耦合玻色-爱因斯坦凝聚体的基态结构

研究囚禁在环形势中的Rashba自旋轨道耦合玻色-爱因斯坦凝聚体在六极子磁场中的基态特性。在这种情况下,磁场破坏了自旋轨道耦合哈密顿量的旋转对称性,但系统仍具有2π/3的离散对称性。数值结果发现:在弱相互作用情况下,六极子磁场和Rashba自旋轨道耦合使环形囚禁的凝聚体呈类六边形的基态密度分布,当磁场强度超过某一临界值时,凝聚体将崩塌;在强相互作用情况下,半量子涡旋出现在凝聚体中,且被六极子磁场钉在方位角Ф=nπ/3的径向位置,涡旋的旋转方向取决于径向磁场的方向。     

Spin-dependent transport in four-terminal rings in the presence of the Rashba spin-orbit coupling

Spin dependent transport in one-dimensional four-terminal rings (FTRs) is investigated in the presence of the Rashba spin-orbit coupling (RSOC). In the absence of the RSOC, the conductances as a function of the electron wave vector show resonant behavior for symmetrical configurations. For asymmetrical configurations, the conductances show peculiar zero-conductance resonances, and two kinds of conductance zeros have been found. In the presence of the RSOC, the original conductance zeros disappear as new conductance zeros are generated. Moreover, two kinds of symmetry relations have been found in the conductances, the spin dependent conductances and the spin polarizations. For the FTRs with axial or central symmetry, the phase-locking effect has been found in terminal 2, where there is no spin polarization. Under a weak magnetic field, the Zeeman term is treated by a perturbation, and it is found that the Zeeman effect is obvious for weak RSOC.     

Influence of spin-orbit coupling induced by in-plane external electric field on the intrinsic spin-Hall effect in a Rashba two-dimensional electron gas

We study theoretically the influence of spin--orbit coupling induced by in-plane external electric field on the intrinsic spin-Hall effect in a two-dimensional electron gas with Rashba spin--orbit coupling. We show that, after such an influence is taken into account, the static intrinsic spin-Hall effect can be stabilized in a disordered Rashba two-dimensional electron gas, and the static intrinsic spin-Hall conductivity shall exhibit some interesting characteristics as conceived in some original theoretical proposals.     

多光子T-C模型中场熵的演化

利用Tavis-Cummings模型研究了耦合二能级原子通过多光子跃迁与相干态光场相互作用系统中场熵的演化规律,讨论了原子间耦合强度和光场初始平均光子数的变化对场熵演化的影响。数值计算结果表明: 场熵的演化受原子间耦合强度和光场初始平均光子数的变化的影响.随光场初始平均光子数的增大,场熵平均值增大。