Simulation of intermittent action potential firing in thalamocortical neurons.
Thalamocortical neurons are capable of displaying complex electrophysiological behaviour, such as low- and high-frequency oscillations, because of their large number of different membrane channels. Recent experimental results have provided direct evidence on the involvement of high-threshold Ca2+ currents (I(HVA)) in the genesis of the high-frequency oscillations that underlie intermittent action potential firing. Complementing these findings, we now show by means of a biophysical model of a thalamocortical neuron how the interaction of I(HVA) with a Ca2+-activated K+ current which is also present in these neurons may generate this activity via intracellular Ca2+ processing.
Tóth
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TI
Physiology Unit, School of Molecular and Medical Biosciences, University of Wales, Cardiff, UK.
Crunelli
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D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D055592:Biophysical Phenomena; D001703:Biophysics; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D008433:Mathematics; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D009991:Oscillometry; D013788:Thalamus / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*
D015220:Calcium Channels