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External Excitation of Neurons Using Electric and Magnetic Fields in One- and Two-dimensional Cultures
Published on: May 7, 2017
Optimal stimulus shapes for neuronal excitation.
Daniel B Forger1, David Paydarfar, John R Clay
1Department of Mathematics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. forger@umich.edu
Plos Computational Biology
|July 16, 2011
Summary
Neurons precisely control action potential timing for energy efficiency. Optimal stimulus shapes vary based on neural inputs, revealing complex single-cell computation.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Computational Neuroscience
- Cellular Electrophysiology
Background:
- Understanding how neurons process stimuli and generate action potentials (spikes) is crucial for neuronal computation.
- Minimizing energy expenditure, such as applied current, is a key factor in efficient neuronal signaling.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how stimulus features control action potential timing.
- To determine the energy-efficient stimulus shapes for eliciting neuronal spikes.
- To explore the dependence of optimal stimulus shapes on neuronal inputs.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Hodgkin & Huxley model for mathematical analysis.
- Conducted experiments on squid giant axons.
- Employed calculus of variations and stochastic search methodologies.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated that spike generation is highly discriminatory for stimulus shape.
- Showed that the optimal stimulus shape for neuron excitation depends on specific inputs.
- Identified how the polarity and time course of post-synaptic currents influence optimal stimulus shapes.
Conclusions:
- Neuronal computation exhibits complexity at the single-cell level.
- Optimal stimulus shapes are dynamically determined by neural inputs.
- Findings offer insights into optimizing signaling within neurons and neuronal networks.
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01:28Action Potential: Phases of Stimulation
The action potential is a complex electrical event that occurs in excitable cells, such as neurons and muscle cells. It consists of several distinct phases, each with specific characteristics.
Resting Phase:
In this phase, the cell's membrane is at its resting potential, typically around -70 millivolts (mV) for neurons. Inside the cell, there is a higher concentration of potassium ions (K+) and a lower concentration of sodium ions (Na+). Voltage-gated sodium channels are closed, and...
Resting Phase:
In this phase, the cell's membrane is at its resting potential, typically around -70 millivolts (mV) for neurons. Inside the cell, there is a higher concentration of potassium ions (K+) and a lower concentration of sodium ions (Na+). Voltage-gated sodium channels are closed, and...
01:29Excitatory 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...
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.
01:31Neuron Structure
Overview
01:30Neuron Structure
Neurons are the main type of cell in the nervous system that generate and transmit electrochemical signals. They primarily communicate with each other using neurotransmitters at specific junctions called synapses. Neurons come in many shapes that often relate to their function, but most share three main structures: an axon and dendrites that extend out from a cell body.
Structure and Function of Neurons
The neuronal cell body—the soma— houses the nucleus and organelles vital to cellular...
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The neuronal cell body—the soma— houses the nucleus and organelles vital to cellular...
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...
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