NPY pair labels reduced 10 ms spike correlation test error by 1.6% and 9.0% in two mouse panels; the first gain was uncertain

We tested whether NPY pair labels add information after separate cell values and distance are given. We used optical response maps and spontaneous spike data from layer 1 barrel cortex in two awake mice. Each session was analyzed on its own. Five folds excluded complete cell pairs; other partners of each cell could enter the fit. For 10 ms spike correlation, the added mixed-NPY label reduced squared test error by 1.64% in 2,445 pairs from mouse 27 and 8.99% in 3,292 pairs from mouse 29. Conditional 95% cell resampling ranges at fixed predictions were -0.83% to 4.11% and 3.22% to 14.81%. Thus the first gain was uncertain. Mixed pairs had lower fitted correlation. Gains stayed positive with 50 and 100 ms bins, population-mean removal, removal of high-count bins, and separate time halves. The same label term added little prediction for detected electrical or inhibitory responses in separate panels after cell and distance control. Electrical error changes were 0.39% lower and 0.04% higher; inhibitory changes were 0.04% lower and 0.12% higher. These are functional detection maps, not verified anatomical contacts. No individual cell was joined across sessions. The study tests new pairs among known cells and does not establish a direct coupling mechanism or variation across animals. The package preserves compact source vectors, provenance, code, predictions, figures, plans, and an offline replay.

NPY · cortical interneurons · electrical coupling · spike correlation · functional connectivity · pair prediction · cell effects