Training Spiking Neural Networks for Cognitive Tasks: A Versatile Framework Compatible with Various Temporal Codes

Recent studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of supervised learning in spiking neural networks (SNNs). A trainable SNN provides a valuable tool not only for engineering applications but also for theoretical neuroscience studies. Here, we propose a modified SpikeProp learning algorithm, which ensures better learning stability for SNNs and provides more diverse network structures and coding schemes. Specifically, we designed a spike gradient threshold rule to solve the well-known gradient exploding problem in SNN training. In addition, regulation rules on firing rates and connection weights are proposed to control the network activity during training. Based on these rules, biologically realistic features such as lateral connections, complex synaptic dynamics, and sparse activities are included in the network to facilitate neural computation. We demonstrate the versatility of this framework by implementing three well-known temporal codes for different types of cognitive tasks, namely, handwritten digit recognition, spatial coordinate transformation, and motor sequence generation. Several important features observed in experimental studies, such as selective activity, excitatory-inhibitory balance, and weak pairwise correlation, emerged in the trained model. This agreement between experimental and computational results further confirmed the importance of these features in neural function. This work provides a new framework, in which various neural behaviors can be modeled and the underlying computational mechanisms can be studied.