title: Synaptic dynamics contribute to long-term single neuron response fluctuations.
abstract: Firing rate variability at the single neuron level is characterized by long-memory processes and complex statistics over a wide range of time scales (from milliseconds up to several hours). Here, we focus on the contribution of non-stationary efficacy of the ensemble of synapses-activated in response to a given stimulus-on single neuron response variability. We present and validate a method tailored for controlled and specific long-term activation of a single cortical neuron in vitro via synaptic or antidromic stimulation, enabling a clear separation between two determinants of neuronal response variability: membrane excitability dynamics vs. synaptic dynamics. Applying this method we show that, within the range of physiological activation frequencies, the synaptic ensemble of a given neuron is a key contributor to the neuronal response variability, long-memory processes and complex statistics observed over extended time scales. Synaptic transmission dynamics impact on response variability in stimulation rates that are substantially lower compared to stimulation rates that drive excitability resources to fluctuate. Implications to network embedded neurons are discussed.
authors: Network Biology Research Laboratories, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology Haifa, Israel ; Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology Haifa, Israel.
authors: Sebastian
authors: S
authors: Reinartz
authors: Theoretical Neurobiology and Neuroengineering Lab, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp Wilrijk, Belgium.
authors: Istvan
authors: I
authors: Biro
authors: Network Biology Research Laboratories, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology Haifa, Israel.
authors: Asaf
authors: A
authors: Gal
authors: Theoretical Neurobiology and Neuroengineering Lab, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp Wilrijk, Belgium ; Department of Computer Science, University of Sheffield Sheffield, UK ; Brain Mind Institute, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology of Lausanne Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors: Michele
authors: M
authors: Giugliano
authors: Network Biology Research Laboratories, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology Haifa, Israel ; Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology Haifa, Israel.
authors: Shimon
authors: S
authors: Marom
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D017774:Long-Term Potentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D017711:Nonlinear Dynamics; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013569:Synapses / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents
keywords: cortical culture; cortical slice; electrical stimulation; microelectrode array; patch clamp; response fluctuations; single neuron; synaptic dynamics