Development of the Dynamic Clamp

这项SGER建议是为了完成对神经元和神经元电路进行在线电生理分析的软件工具--动态钳的开发。目前的微电极技术使记录神经元固有活动和注入电流时膜电位的变化，以及在电压钳下记录局部膜电流成为可能。这种动态钳夹使在实验过程中实时模拟神经元中诱发的和电压相关的电导变化成为可能，从而为记录和实验操作神经元和网络反应提供了显著的进步。这使得模拟两个神经元之间的电或化学突触连接，模拟神经调节物质的作用，以及模拟电压依赖的膜电流的作用成为可能。电流或突触可以在神经元中增加或减少或改变，这些操作的效果可以直接评估。这种支持将使私人投资部门能够完成软件的开发和测试，包括一个“用户友好”的界面。P.I.已经通过最新一期《神经生理学杂志》的封面图片和一份关于其使用的报告，提醒社区注意动态夹的存在。P.I.还建立了软件的分发和技术支持机制。*/

This SGER proposal is to complete development of the "Dynamic Clamp" which is a software tool for on-line electrophysiological analysis of neurons and neuronal circuits. Present microelectrode techniques make it possible to record membrane potential changes in response to intrinsic neuronal activity and to injected current, and to record local membrane currents under voltage clamp. The dynamic clamp provides a significant advance for recording and experimental manipulation of neuronal and network responses by making it possible to simulate evoked and voltage-dependent conductance changes in a neuron in real time during an experiment. This makes it possible to simulate an electrical or chemical synaptic connection between two neurons, to simulate the effect of a neuromodulator substance, and to simulate the effect of voltage- dependent membrane currents. Currents or synapses can be added or subtracted or changed in a neuron, and the effect of these manipulations can be directly assessed. This support will enable the P.I. to complete the development and testing of the software, including a "user-friendly" interface. The P.I. has already alerted the community to the existence of the Dynamic Clamp through a cover picture on the current issue of the Journal of Neurophysiology, and a report on its use. The P.I. has also established mechanisms for distribution and technical support of the software.***//