Emergent central pattern generator behavior in gap-junction-coupled Hodgkin-Huxley style neuron model.
Most models of central pattern generators (CPGs) involve two distinct nuclei mutually inhibiting one another via synapses. Here, we present a single-nucleus model of biologically realistic Hodgkin-Huxley neurons with random gap junction coupling. Despite no explicit division of neurons into two groups, we observe a spontaneous division of neurons into two distinct firing groups. In addition, we also demonstrate this phenomenon in a simplified version of the model, highlighting the importance of afterhyperpolarization currents (I(AHP)) to CPGs utilizing gap junction coupling. The properties of these CPGs also appear sensitive to gap junction conductance, probability of gap junction coupling between cells, topology of gap junction coupling, and, to a lesser extent, input current into our simulated nucleus.
Program in Neuroscience, Stony Brook Universty, SUNY, Stony Brook, NY 11794-5230, USA.
Kyle G
KG
Horn
Heraldo
H
Memelli
Irene C
IC
Solomon
D000818:Animals; D001519:Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D063226:Central Pattern Generators / Q000502:physiology*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000502:physiology*; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology