  The rate coding response of a single peripheral sensory neuron in the
asymptotic, near-equilibrium limit can be derived using information theory,
asymptotic Bayesian statistics and a theory of complex systems. Almost no
biological knowledge is required. The theoretical expression shows good
agreement with spike-frequency adaptation data across different sensory
modalities and animal species. The approach permits the discovery of a new
neurophysiological equation and shares similarities with statistical physics.
