What can be learned about motoneurone properties from studying firing patterns?
The discharge patterns of tonically-firing neurones are influenced by both the characteristics of their presynaptic input and their intrinsic properties. The regularity of the discharge of motoneurones is thought to reflect their prominent post-spike afterhyperpolarization (AHP). When a motoneurone fires at steady mean rate, the distribution of interspike intervals is determined by the amplitude and frequency content of the synaptic noise together with the decrease in excitability following a spike due to AHP. This paper considers how motoneurone discharge statistics can be used to estimate AHP trajectories as well as a motoneurone's sensitivity to excitatory input.
Powers
Randall K
RK
Dept of Physiology and Biophysics, Univ. of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle 98195, USA. rkpowers@u.washington.edu
Türker
Kemal S
KS
Binder
Marc D
MD
D000818:Animals; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000502:physiology*