A group of neurons can generate patterns of activity that represent information about stimuli; subsequently, the group can transform and transmit activity patterns across synapses to spatially distributed areas. Recent studies in neuroscience have begun to independently address the two components of information processing: the representation of stimuli in neural activity and the transmission of information in networks that model neural interactions. Yet only recently are studies seeking to link these two types of approaches. Here we briefly review the two separate bodies of literature; we then review the recent strides made to address this gap. We continue with a discussion of how patterns of activity evolve from one representation to another, forming dynamic representations that unfold on the underlying network. Our goal is to offer a holistic framework for understanding and describing neural information representation and transmission while revealing exciting frontiers for future research.

一组神经元可以产生代表有关刺激信息的活动模式。随后，该小组可以将活动模式跨突触转换并传输到空间分布的区域。最近在神经科学方面的研究已经开始独立地解决信息处理的两个组成部分：神经活动中刺激的表示以及在模拟神经相互作用的网络中信息的传递。但是直到最近，才有研究试图将这两种方法联系起来。在这里，我们简要回顾一下两个独立的文学体系。然后，我们回顾一下为解决这一差距而取得的最新进展。我们将继续讨论活动模式如何从一种表示形式演变为另一种形式，从而形成在底层网络上展开的动态表示形式。