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Modeling the effects of extracellular potassium on bursting properties in pre-B ötzinger complex neurons
< h3 class= " a-plus-plus " > Abstract < /h3 > < p class= " a-plus-plus " > There are many types of neurons that intrinsically generate rhythmic bursting activity, even when isolated, and these neurons underlie several specific motor behaviors. Rhythmic neurons that drive the inspiratory phase of respiration are located in the medullary pre-B ötzinger Complex (pre-BötC). However, it is not known if their rhythmic bursting is the result of intrinsic mechanisms or synaptic interactions. In many cases, for bursting to occur, the excitability of these neurons needs to be elevated. This excitation is provided < em class= " a-...
Source: Journal of Computational Neuroscience - March 31, 2016 Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research

From global to local: exploring the relationship between parameters and behaviors in models of electrical excitability
In this study we combined global sampling of parameter space and local analysis of representative parameter sets in a pituitary cell model to understand the effects of adding K + conductances, which mediate some effects of hormone action on these cells. Global sampling ensured that the effects of introducing K + conductances were captured across a wide variety of contexts of model parameters. For each type of K + conductance we determined the types of behavioral transition that it evoked. Some transitions were counterintuitive, and may have been missed without the use of global sampling. In general, the wide range of trans...
Source: Journal of Computational Neuroscience - March 31, 2016 Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research

Flexible models for spike count data with both over- and under- dispersion
Abstract A key observation in systems neuroscience is that neural responses vary, even in controlled settings where stimuli are held constant. Many statistical models assume that trial-to-trial spike count variability is Poisson, but there is considerable evidence that neurons can be substantially more or less variable than Poisson depending on the stimuli, attentional state, and brain area. Here we examine a set of spike count models based on the Conway-Maxwell-Poisson (COM-Poisson) distribution that can flexibly account for both over- and under-dispersion in spike count data. We illustrate applications ...
Source: Journal of Computational Neuroscience - March 22, 2016 Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research

A unified model for two modes of bursting in GnRH neurons
Abstract Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons exhibit at least two intrinsic modes of action potential burst firing, referred to as parabolic and irregular bursting. Parabolic bursting is characterized by a slow wave in membrane potential that can underlie periodic clusters of action potentials with increased interspike interval at the beginning and at the end of each cluster. Irregular bursting is characterized by clusters of action potentials that are separated by varying durations of interburst intervals and a relatively stable baseline potential. Based on recent studies of isolated ionic curr...
Source: Journal of Computational Neuroscience - March 15, 2016 Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research

Modeling the spinal pudendo-vesical reflex for bladder control by pudendal afferent stimulation
Abstract Electrical stimulation of the pudendal nerve (PN) is a promising approach to restore continence and micturition following bladder dysfunction resulting from neurological disease or injury. Although the pudendo-vesical reflex and its physiological properties are well established, there is limited understanding of the specific neural mechanisms that mediate this reflex. We sought to develop a computational model of the spinal neural network that governs the reflex bladder response to PN stimulation. We implemented and validated a neural network architecture based on previous neuroanatomical and ele...
Source: Journal of Computational Neuroscience - March 11, 2016 Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research