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Related Concept Videos

Neural Circuits01:25

Neural 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...
The Role of Ion Channels in Neuronal Computation01:19

The 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.
Neuronal Communication01:28

Neuronal 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...
Neuroplasticity01:01

Neuroplasticity

Neuroplasticity reflects the brain's remarkable capacity to adapt and evolve, responding dynamically to learning, experiences, or injury by reorganizing its neural circuitry. This reorganization involves creating new neural connections and refining old ones through a series of biological processes that contribute to the brain's lifelong development and adaptability.
The Synapse02:47

The Synapse

Neurons communicate with one another by passing on their electrical signals to other neurons. A synapse is the location where two neurons meet to exchange signals. At the synapse, the neuron that sends the signal is called the presynaptic cell, while the neuron that receives the message is called the postsynaptic cell. Note that most neurons can be both presynaptic and postsynaptic, as they both transmit and receive information.
Excitatory and Inhibitory Effects of Neurotransmitters01:29

Excitatory and Inhibitory Effects of Neurotransmitters

When an action potential reaches the presynaptic axon terminal, it releases neurotransmitters from the neuron into the synaptic cleft at a chemical synapse. The released neurotransmitter can be excitatory or inhibitory. The critical criteria commonly used to determine whether a molecule is a neurotransmitter at a chemical synapse are the molecule's presence in the presynaptic neuron. Second, its release is in response to strong presynaptic depolarization. And lastly, the presence of specific...

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Related Experiment Video

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Induction of an Isoelectric Brain State to Investigate the Impact of Endogenous Synaptic Activity on Neuronal Excitability In Vivo
10:19

Induction of an Isoelectric Brain State to Investigate the Impact of Endogenous Synaptic Activity on Neuronal Excitability In Vivo

Published on: March 31, 2016

Variability, compensation, and modulation in neurons and circuits.

Eve Marder1

  • 1Department of Biology and Volen Center, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02454, USA. marder@brandeis.edu

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|March 9, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Brain circuits can achieve similar performance with varied parameters, suggesting compensatory mechanisms. This research explores how these variations impact network function and response to global perturbations.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Computational Neuroscience
  • Systems Neuroscience

Background:

  • The brain exhibits inherent variability in synaptic and intrinsic conductances.
  • Multiple sets of parameters can yield similar neural circuit performance.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate compensatory mechanisms and parameter insensitivity in neural networks.
  • To determine if networks with diverse parameters respond reliably to neuromodulation.
  • To highlight a paradigm shift towards modeling biological data variance.

Main Methods:

  • Summarizing recent computational and experimental studies.
  • Analyzing parameter variations and their effect on circuit performance.
  • Examining network responses to global perturbations.

Main Results:

  • Multiple parameter sets can lead to similar circuit performance.
  • Understanding which parameter variations are compensatory versus inconsequential.
  • Identifying potential principles governing complex system organization.

Conclusions:

  • A shift towards modeling parameter variance is crucial.
  • Experimental approaches should correlate system parameters and circuit performance.
  • Moving beyond isolated measurements reveals organizational principles in brains.