title: Optimal Current Transfer in Dendrites.
abstract: Integration of synaptic currents across an extensive dendritic tree is a prerequisite for computation in the brain. Dendritic tapering away from the soma has been suggested to both equalise contributions from synapses at different locations and maximise the current transfer to the soma. To find out how this is achieved precisely, an analytical solution for the current transfer in dendrites with arbitrary taper is required. We derive here an asymptotic approximation that accurately matches results from numerical simulations. From this we then determine the diameter profile that maximises the current transfer to the soma. We find a simple quadratic form that matches diameters obtained experimentally, indicating a fundamental architectural principle of the brain that links dendritic diameters to signal transmission.
authors.affiliation: Warwick Systems Biology Centre, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom.|Warwick Systems Biology Doctoral Training Centre, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom.|School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Alex D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Bird
authors.affiliation: Ernst Strüngmann Institute (ESI) for Neuroscience in Cooperation with Max Planck Society, Frankfurt-am-Main, Germany.|Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies, Frankfurt-am-Main, Germany.
authors.forename: Hermann
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-5445-0507
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cuntz
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology; D019295:Computational Biology; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003712:Dendrites / Q000502:physiology*; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology*