Hierarchical Wilson-Cowan Models and Connection Matrices

Abstract

This work aims to study the interplay between the Wilson-Cowan model and the connection matrices. These matrices describe the cortical neural wiring, while the Wilson-Cowan equations provide a dynamical description of neural interaction. We formulate the Wilson-Cowan equations on locally compact Abelian groups. We show that the Cauchy problem is well-posed. We then select a type of group that allows us to incorporate the experimental information provided by the connection matrices. We argue that the classical Wilson-Cowan model is incompatible with the small-world property. A necessary condition to have this property is that the Wilson-Cowan equations be formulated on a compact group. We propose a p-adic version of the Wilson-Cowan model, a hierarchical version in which the neurons are organized into an infinite rooted tree. We present several numerical simulations showing that the p-adic version matches the predictions of the classical version in relevant experiments. The p-adic version allows the incorporation of the connection matrices into the Wilson-Cowan model. We present several numerical simulations using a neural network model that incorporates a p-adic approximation of the connection matrix of the cat cortex.