Oscillating neurons in the cochlear nucleus: II. Simulation results.
A computer model of sustained chopper neurons in the ventral cochlear nucleus is presented and investigated. In the companion paper, the underlying neurophysiological and neuroanatomical data are demonstrated. To explain the preference of chopper neurons for oscillations with periods which are multiples of a 0.4 ms synaptic delay, we suggest a model of circularly connected chopper neurons. In order to simulate chopper neurons within a physiological dynamic range for periodicity encoding, it is necessary to assume that they receive an input from onset neurons. Our computer analysis of the resulting simple neuronal network shows that it can produce stable oscillations. The chopping can be triggered by an amplitude-modulated signal (AM). The dynamic range and the synchronous response of the simulated chopper neurons to AM are enhanced significantly by an additional input from onset neurons. Physiological properties of chopper neurons in the cat, such as mean, standard deviation, and coefficient of variation of the interspike interval are matched precisely by our simulations.
Bahmer
Andreas
A
Neuroacoustics, Department of Biology, Darmstadt University of Technology, Darmstadt, Germany. bahmer@bio.tu-darmstadt.de
Langner
Gerald
G
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D003056:Cochlear Nerve / Q000502:physiology; D017626:Cochlear Nucleus / Q000166:cytology*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D006801:Humans; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000502:physiology; D016571:Neural Networks, Computer; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors