Simultaneous encoding of sensory features: the role of multiplexing and noise in tactile perception and neural representation

The nervous system's capacity to process complex stimuli has long intrigued neuroscientists, with multiplexing now recognized as a fundamental neural coding strategy. Multiplexing refers to the simultaneous encoding of multiple stimulus features via vi distinct components of neuronal responses, such as firing rates and precise temporal spike patterns. This paper reviews the neural coding mechanisms underlying multiplexing, with a particular emphasis on the somatosensory system and its ability to represent tactile stimuli. The encoding of various sensory attributes, including vibration, texture, motion, and shape, is examined, highlighting the complementary roles of rate and temporal codes in capturing these features. The discussion further addresses how intrinsic and extrinsic noise, often viewed as detrimental, can facilitate multiplexed coding by supporting the concurrent encoding of both stimulus frequency and intensity. The relevance of multiplexing is also considered in translational contexts, such as the development of brain-machine interfaces. By synthesizing recent advances and integrating insights from empirical and theoretical studies, this review establishes multiplexing as a foundational principle in sensory neuroscience and identifies key directions for future research in both basic science and neuroengineering applications.