title: Neuron as time coherence discriminator.
abstract: Neuronal excitability under stimuli with a complex time course is investigated on the basis of the numerical solution of the Hodgkin-Huxley equations. Each stimulus is composed of 100-1000 unitary excitatory postsynaptic potentials (uEPSP) that start randomly within a definite time window. Probability of initiating a spike [firing probability, FP(W)] as a function of the window width W is calculated by the Monte Carlo method. FP(W) has a step-like shape: it becomes equal to 1 for small W and almost vanishes as W exceeds some value Ws. The role of long-lasting somatic inhibition is analysed. Ws depends on the inhibition potential, but the step-like shape of FP is preserved. It is concluded that the capability of multisynaptic stimulation to cause a spike can be expressed in terms of temporal coherence between the synaptic inputs. Namely, the spike is initiated if the temporal coherence between active inputs is above a definite threshold. The threshold value can be effectively regulated by varying the inhibition potential.
authors.affiliation: Bogolyubov Institute for Theoretical Physics, Kiev, Ukraine.
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Vidybida
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D003198:Computer Simulation; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology; D013995:Time