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Related Concept Videos

Neurons: The Axon01:21

Neurons: The Axon

Axons are long, cytoplasmic processes of nerve cells capable of propagating electrical impulses known as action potentials. The cytoplasm or axoplasm of an axon contains neurofibrils, neurotubules, small vesicles, lysosomes, mitochondria, and various enzymes, all encased within the axolemma, the plasma membrane of the axon.
The axon attaches to the cell body at a cone-shaped elevation called the axon hillock. The initial part of the axon, closest to the hillock, is known as the initial segment.
Neuron Structure01:31

Neuron Structure

Overview
Neuron Structure01:30

Neuron 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...
Neurons as Communicators of the Brain01:22

Neurons as Communicators of the Brain

Neurons, the fundamental units of the brain and nervous system, function as the primary transmitters of information throughout the body. Their ability to communicate through electrical and chemical signals is vital for every bodily function, from regulating the heartbeat to processing complex thoughts. Each neuron has three main components: the cell body (soma), dendrites, and an axon, each specialized to facilitate swift and efficient neural communication.
Cell Body
The cell body, also known...
Neurons: The Cell Body and the Dendrites01:23

Neurons: The Cell Body and the Dendrites

A typical nerve cell comprises three main components: the cell body, dendrites, and the axon. The cell body, also known as the soma or perikaryon, serves as the central biosynthetic hub housing a nucleus surrounded by cytoplasm containing organelles commonly found in most cells. Notably, Nissl bodies, clusters of the rough endoplasmic reticulum and free ribosomes responsible for protein synthesis, are distinctive features of the neuronal cell body. As neurons age, aggregates of a brown pigment...
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.
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Electrophysiological Investigations of Retinogeniculate and Corticogeniculate Synapse Function
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Published on: August 7, 2019

The faithful copy neuron.

Lawrence Sirovich1

  • 1Laboratory of Applied Mathematics, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, 10029 NY, USA. lsirovich@rockefeller.edu

Journal of Computational Neuroscience
|January 12, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Neurons in nervous tissue can precisely follow input stimuli, firing efficiently near threshold. This optimal firing mechanism utilizes background noise and dynamic adjustments for precise rate control.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Computational Neuroscience
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Neurons exhibit diverse firing patterns in response to stimuli.
  • Understanding the biophysical mechanisms of precise neuronal firing is crucial.
  • Existing models may not fully capture dynamic firing rate adjustments.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To present theoretical and experimental evidence for neurons that faithfully follow input stimuli.
  • To elucidate the mechanism of energy-efficient neuronal firing.
  • To analyze the statistical properties of neuronal firing under time-varying conditions.

Main Methods:

  • Theoretical modeling of neuronal firing dynamics.
  • Experimental validation in nervous tissue.
  • Analysis of spike dissipation and conductance matching.
  • Development of a probability distribution function for interspike intervals.

Main Results:

  • Identified neurons that precisely track input stimuli with minimal energy dissipation per spike.
  • Demonstrated that optimal firing is achieved by local circuitry adjusting conductances near the firing threshold.
  • Showcased an unconventional firing mechanism leveraging background noise for rate control.
  • Derived an analytically explicit probability distribution function for time-varying conditions.

Conclusions:

  • Neurons can achieve highly accurate firing rate control through dynamic, noise-assisted mechanisms.
  • The presented framework offers a new perspective on neuronal excitability and information processing.
  • The derived probability distribution function accurately models interspike interval statistics.