Neural Code Translation With LIF Neuron Microcircuits

Abstract Spiking neural networks (SNNs) provide an energy-efficient alternative to traditional artificial neural networks, leveraging diverse neural encoding schemes such as rate, time-to-first-spike (TTFS), and population-based binary codes. Each encoding method offers distinct advantages: TTFS enables rapid and precise transmission with minimal energy use, rate encoding provides robust signal representation, and binary population encoding aligns well with digital hardware implementations. This letter introduces a set of neural microcircuits based on leaky integrate-and-fire neurons that enable translation between these encoding schemes. We propose two applications showcasing the utility of these microcircuits. First, we demonstrate a number comparison operation that significantly reduces spike transmission by switching from rate to TTFS encoding. Second, we present a high-bandwidth neural transmitter capable of encoding and transmitting binary population-encoded data through a single axon and reconstructing it at the target site. Additionally, we conduct a detailed analysis of these microcircuits, providing quantitative metrics to assess their efficiency in terms of neuron count, synaptic complexity, spike overhead, and runtime. Our findings highlight the potential of LIF neuron microcircuits in computational neuroscience and neuromorphic computing, offering a pathway to more interpretable and efficient SNN designs.