A simulation approach to the two-point stochastic model of olfactory neurons

Neurons need two basic properties to carry out their functions. The first is their ability to transduce the changes of the dendritic potential and to sum them in spatial and temporal dimensions. The second is their ability to elicit an action potential which can be transmitted along the axon at a long distance. This simulation study demonstrates how these two properties can be retracted to the two points of the neuron model. First we discussed the definition and general properties of the so-called two-point or spiking neuron model. Then a simple simulated solution of the first passage time problem of the birth and death process applied in this model was discussed. In case of olfactory cells, the model exhibited a behaviour similar to the experimental data with parameter values corresponding to the suprathreshold concentrations of an odorant.