On the identification of $k$-inductively pierced codes using toric ideals

Abstract

Neural codes are binary codes in $\{0,1\}^n$; here we focus on the ones which represent the firing patterns of a type of neurons called place cells. There is much interest in determining which neural codes can be realized by a collection of convex sets. However, drawing representations of these convex sets, particularly as the number of neurons in a code increases, can be very difficult. Nevertheless, for a class of codes that are said to be $k$-inductively pierced for $k=0,1,2$ there is an algorithm for drawing Euler diagrams. Here we use the toric ideal of a code to show sufficient conditions for a code to be 1- or 2-inductively pierced, so that we may use the existing algorithm to draw realizations of such codes.