paper available: some news on neural dynamics

Ulrich.Hillenbrand@dlr.de

--
Title: Subthreshold dynamics of the neural membrane potential driven by
stochastic synaptic input
Author: Ulrich Hillenbrand
Published: Physical Review E 66, 021909 (2002)
Abstract:
In the cerebral cortex, neurons are subject to a continuous bombardment
of synaptic inputs originating from the network's background activity.
This leads to ongoing, mostly subthreshold membrane dynamics that
depends on the statistics of the background activity and of the synapses
made on a neuron. Subthreshold membrane polarization is, in turn, a
potent modulator of neural responses. The present paper analyzes the
subthreshold dynamics of the neural membrane potential driven by
synaptic inputs of stationary statistics. Synaptic inputs are considered
in linear interaction. The analysis identifies regimes of input
statistics which give rise to stationary, fluctuating, oscillatory, and
unstable dynamics. In particular, I show that (i) mere noise inputs can
drive the membrane potential into sustained, quasiperiodic oscillations
(noise-driven oscillations), in the absence of a stimulus-derived,
intraneural, or network pacemaker; (ii) adding hyperpolarizing to
depolarizing synaptic input can increase neural activity
(hyperpolarization-induced activity), in the absence of
hyperpolarization-activated currents.
--
Dr. Ulrich Hillenbrand
Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics
German Aerospace Center / DLR
Oberpfaffenhofen
82234 Wessling
Germany
www.robotic.dlr.de/Ulrich.Hillenbrand
+49 8153 28-3501 (phone) -1134 (fax)