Stochastic Wiring of Cell Types Enhances Fitness by Generating Phenotypic Variability

The development of neural connectivity is a crucial biological process that gives rise to diverse brain circuits and behaviors. Neural development is a stochastic process, but this stochasticity is often treated as a nuisance to overcome rather than as a functional advantage. Here we use a computational model, in which connection probabilities between discrete cell types are genetically specified, to investigate the benefits of stochasticity in the development of neural wiring. We show that this model can be viewed as a generalization of a powerful class of artificial neural networks—Bayesian neural networks—where each network parameter is a sample from a distribution. Our results reveal that stochasticity confers a greater benefit in large networks and variable environments, which may explain its role in organisms with larger brains. Surprisingly, we find that the average fitness over a population of agents is higher than a single agent defined by the average connection probability. Our model reveals how developmental stochasticity, by inducing a form of non-heritable phenotypic variability, can increase the probability that at least some individuals will survive in rapidly changing, unpredictable environments. Our results suggest how stochasticity may be an important feature rather than a bug in neural development.