A stochastic afterhyperpolarization model of repetitive activity in vestibular afferents

A stochastic version of Kernell's (1968, 1972) model with cumulative afterhyperpolarization (AHP) was simulated. A characteristic of the model is that the AHP is the result of an increased potassium conductance (g K) that is time-dependent but not voltage-dependent. Quantal synaptic inputs are assumed to be the only source of interspike interval variability. The model reproduces many features of the steady-state discharge of peripheral vestibular afferents, provided that firing rates are higher than 40 spikes/s. Among the results accounted for are the interspike interval statistics occurring during natural stimulation, their alteration by externally applied galvanic currents and the increase in the interspike interval following an interposed shock. Empirical studies show that some vestibular afferents have a regular spacing of action potentials, others an irregular spacing (Goldberg and Fernández 1971b; Fernández and Goldberg 1976). Irregularly discharging afferents have a higher sensitivity to externally applied galvanic currents than do regular afferents (Goldberg et al. 1984). To explain the relation between galvanic sensitivity and discharge regularity requires the assumption that neurons differ in both their synaptic noise (sigma v) and the slopes of their postspike voltage trajectories (d mu v/dt). The more irregular the neuron's discharge at a given firing frequency, the greater is sigma v and the smaller is d mu v/dt. Of the two factors, d mu v/dt is estimated to be four times more influential in determining discharge regularity across the afferent population. The shortcomings of the model are considered, as are possible remedies. Our conclusions are compared to previous discussions of mechanisms responsible for differences in the discharge regularity of vestibular afferents.