Temporal Coding

Encoding information in the precise timing of spikes rather than firing rates — exploiting time as a computational dimension.

In temporal coding, when a neuron fires matters as much as whether it fires. Mechanisms include time-to-first-spike coding, phase coding relative to oscillations, and synchrony-based coding where simultaneous spikes from multiple neurons carry meaning.

Systems Connection

Temporal coding treats time as part of the state representation. Information exists not just in which components are active but in the precise temporal relationships between their flows (spikes). This enables emergent computational capabilities — the same components can represent different information through different timing patterns.

See Also

• Neuromorphics — parent domain
• Spiking Neural Network — where temporal coding occurs
• State — what temporal patterns encode