Before revision:  We first identify a general criterion that distinguishes two classes of networks depending on properties of the connectivity matrix : networks in which all inputs lead to weak, decaying transients, and networks in which specific inputs elicit strongly amplified transient responses and are mapped onto orthogonal output states during the dynamics.
After revision:  We first identify a general criterion that distinguishes two classes of networks : networks in which all inputs lead to weak, decaying transients, and networks in which specific inputs elicit strongly amplified transient responses and are mapped onto orthogonal output states during the dynamics.