title: Analysis of the role of the low threshold currents IT and Ih in intrinsic delta oscillations of thalamocortical neurons.
abstract: Thalamocortical neurons are involved in the generation and maintenance of brain rhythms associated with global functional states. The repetitive burst firing of TC neurons at delta frequencies (1-4 Hz) has been linked to the oscillations recorded during deep sleep and during episodes of absence seizures. To get insight into the biophysical properties that are the basis for intrinsic delta oscillations in these neurons, we performed a bifurcation analysis of a minimal conductance-based thalamocortical neuron model including only the IT channel and the sodium and potassium leak channels. This analysis unveils the dynamics of repetitive burst firing of TC neurons, and describes how the interplay between the amplifying variable mT and the recovering variable hT of the calcium channel IT is sufficient to generate low threshold oscillations in the delta band. We also explored the role of the hyperpolarization activated cationic current Ih in this reduced model and determine that, albeit not required, Ih amplifies and stabilizes the oscillation.
authors.affiliation: Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Física Estadística e Interdisciplinaria, Centro Atómico Bariloche San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina.
authors.forename: Yimy
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Amarillo
authors.affiliation: Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Física Estadística e Interdisciplinaria, Centro Atómico Bariloche San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina ; Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Centro Atómico Bariloche and Instituto Balseiro San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina.
authors.forename: Germán
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mato
authors.affiliation: Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Física Estadística e Interdisciplinaria, Centro Atómico Bariloche San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina.
authors.forename: Marcela S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Nadal
keywords: T-type calcium channel; repetitive burst firing; sub-threshold conductances; thalamocortical neurons