Using assembly τ as opposed to a single neuron as the fundamental unit of syntax has several advantages. Neuronal trajectories involving only a single or too few neurons at each step would be vulnerable, due to synaptic or spike transmission failures and neuronal damage. Assembly partnership tolerates spike rate variation of individual cells effectively since it is the intensity of assembly activity that matters for the reader. Furthermore, minor differences in synaptic weights between the leading neuron and followers would divert the trajectory in multiple directions in the presence of noise. In contrast, interacting assembly members can compute probabilities, rather than deterministic information, amplify inputs and robustly tolerate noise even if the individual members respond probabilistically (Fiete et al., 2010; Geisler et al., 2007).
