Fig. 5

Highly Variable Ensembles Are Anchored by Reliably Responding Core Cells

(A) The average pairwise matching index across all trials for each ensemble of cells is low but significantly higher than that of a simulated ensemble with the same local distribution of cells. The AUD2 cluster provides one exception (*p < 0.01, Wilcoxon signed-rank test; error bars, SEM).

(B) An example ensemble of cells from SS4 cluster (small spot-responsive) in three repeated trials. The cellular composition of the ensemble is more varied between trial 1 and 2 (matching index [MI] = 0.59) than between trials 2 and 3 (MI = 0.70). Core cells present in at least 80% of trials are red; non-core cells are yellow.

(C) A significantly higher proportion of core cells exist in all ensembles from visual-responsive clusters and WF2 than expected by chance (*p < 0.01, Wilcoxon signed-rank test; error bars, SEM). The AUD2 cluster contained no core cells.

(D) The core cells within an ensemble are significantly more compact in all visual stimuli-responsive clusters and the second water flow-responsive cluster than a simulated core within each ensemble (*p < 0.01, Wilcoxon signed-rank test; error bars, SEM).

(E) The average response of core cells is broadly similar to that of the whole cluster, although there is a trend toward stronger responses to the salient stimulus feature.