Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 21, 2026
07:33
Optogenetic Entrainment of Hippocampal Theta Oscillations in Behaving Mice
Published on: June 29, 2018
Dynamics of globally delay-coupled neurons displaying subthreshold oscillations
Cristina Masoller1, M C Torrent, Jordi García-Ojalvo
1Departament de Física i Enginyeria Nuclear, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Colom 11, 08222 Terrassa, Barcelona, Spain. cristina.masoller@upc.edu
Summary
Neuronal ensembles exhibit diverse oscillatory activities controlled by intrinsic and coupling time scales. A phase-flip bifurcation governs transitions between in-phase and out-of-phase synchronized firing patterns.
Area of Science:
- Computational neuroscience
- Systems neuroscience
Background:
- Neurons exhibit autonomous subthreshold oscillations.
- Global coupling with time delays influences neuronal network dynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate oscillatory activities in a neuronal ensemble.
- Analyze the role of time scales and delay in network synchronization.
- Characterize phase-flip bifurcations in coupled neuronal oscillators.
Main Methods:
- Hodgkin-Huxley-type conductance model for individual neurons.
- Simulation of a globally coupled neuronal ensemble.
- Analysis of time scales and bifurcation phenomena.
Main Results:
- Ensemble activity is governed by single-neuron oscillation period and coupling delay.
- Synchronized oscillations can be in-phase or out-of-phase.
- Phase-flip bifurcation leads to abrupt changes in oscillation frequency and synchrony patterns.
Conclusions:
- Time-delayed global coupling generates rich neuronal dynamics.
- Phase-flip bifurcations are key mechanisms for switching firing patterns.
- Understanding these dynamics is crucial for neural computation.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Propagation of Action Potentials
The propagation of an action potential refers to the process by which a nerve impulse, or "action potential," travels along a neuron.
Neurons (nerve cells) have a resting membrane potential, with a slightly negative charge inside compared to outside. This is maintained by ion channels, such as sodium (Na+) and potassium (K+) channels, which control the flow of ions. When a stimulus, like a touch or a signal from another neuron, triggers the neuron, sodium channels open, allowing sodium ions to...
Neurons (nerve cells) have a resting membrane potential, with a slightly negative charge inside compared to outside. This is maintained by ion channels, such as sodium (Na+) and potassium (K+) channels, which control the flow of ions. When a stimulus, like a touch or a signal from another neuron, triggers the neuron, sodium channels open, allowing sodium ions to...
01:25Neural Circuits
Neural circuits and neuronal pools are two of the main structures found in the nervous system. Neural circuits are networks of neurons that work together to carry out a specific task or process. They consist of interconnected neurons and glial cells, which provide structural and metabolic support.
Neuronal pools are collections of nerve cells with similar functions and interact through chemical and electrical signals. These pools include both interneurons (the central neural circuit nodes that...
Neuronal pools are collections of nerve cells with similar functions and interact through chemical and electrical signals. These pools include both interneurons (the central neural circuit nodes that...
01:28Neuronal Communication
Neurons, the fundamental units of the brain and nervous system, communicate through complex electrochemical signals that underpin all cognitive and bodily functions. This communication is primarily facilitated by a process involving the generation and propagation of an action potential along the axon of the neuron. When the internal electrical charge of a neuron surpasses a certain threshold, an action potential is triggered. This rapid change in voltage travels swiftly along the axon to the...
01:19The Role of Ion Channels in Neuronal Computation
A postsynaptic neuron usually receives numerous impulses from several other presynaptic neurons. The axon hillock of the postsynaptic neuron integrates all these signals and determines the likelihood of firing an action potential.
Sometimes a single EPSP is strong enough to induce an action potential in the postsynaptic neuron. However, multiple presynaptic inputs must often create EPSPs around the same time for the postsynaptic neuron to be sufficiently depolarized to fire an action potential.
Sometimes a single EPSP is strong enough to induce an action potential in the postsynaptic neuron. However, multiple presynaptic inputs must often create EPSPs around the same time for the postsynaptic neuron to be sufficiently depolarized to fire an action potential.
01:07Damped Oscillations
In the real world, oscillations seldom follow true simple harmonic motion. A system that continues its motion indefinitely without losing its amplitude is termed undamped. However, friction of some sort usually dampens the motion, so it fades away or needs more force to continue. For example, a guitar string stops oscillating a few seconds after being plucked. Similarly, one must continually push a swing to keep a child swinging on a playground.
Although friction and other non-conservative...
Although friction and other non-conservative...
01:30Oscillations In An LC Circuit
An idealized LC circuit of zero resistance can oscillate without any source of emf by shifting the energy stored in the circuit between the electric and magnetic fields. In such an LC circuit, if the capacitor contains a charge q before the switch is closed, then all the energy of the circuit is initially stored in the electric field of the capacitor. This energy is given by