Functional Roles for Short-term Synaptic Plasticity in Neuronal Networks

这个项目的主要目标是得出在三种不同的计算和建筑环境中神经元网络如何利用短期突触可塑性(STSP)的一般原理。具体目标包括确定多个抑制性突触在起搏器驱动的网络中对相位维持的影响，确定多个抑制性突触如何在相互连接的网络中引入多种共存的稳定的起搏模式，以及确定在传入驱动的网络中，抑制性和兴奋性突触输入如何产生频率选择性的、稳态的和瞬时的网络反应。研究人员开发和使用几何奇异微扰理论的技术来将这些复杂的高维神经元网络的动力学投影和分析到低维的慢流形上。这些技术使他们能够理解不同的突触和内在参数如何影响和调节网络行为。他们与实验者密切合作，在一个平行的研究项目中，他们正在研究突触抑制对甲壳类STG的影响。突触可塑性是指突触随着其使用而改变其强度的能力。它广泛存在于整个大脑的神经元回路中。虽然短时突触可塑性(STSP)的实验研究必须集中在所研究的神经系统的细节上，但本文提出的这种类型的模型可以提供对STSP更一般特性的洞察。研究人员研究了一种可能性，即基于网络体系结构如何约束STSP运行，STSP似乎独立的角色可以组合在一起。阐明这些操作背后的一般原理为理解STSP如何参与大脑区域非常不同的神经元计算提供了一个框架。由于它的跨学科性质，这个项目预计会引起实验、计算和分析神经科学界成员的兴趣。此外，研究人员继续教授他们最近开发的计算神经科学和数学生物学课程。研究生和本科生有机会直接与他们的实验合作者一起工作。因此，无论是在实验领域还是理论领域，或者在两者相结合的领域，学生都处于有利的地位，可以继续挑战。这加强了在数学和生物的关键交汇点上训练有素的劳动力的发展。

Bose, Booth The primary goal of this project is to derive generalprinciples that underlie how short-term synaptic plasticity(STSP) is utilized by neuronal networks in three differentcomputational and architectural settings. These settings aremotivated by concrete biological examples arising in crustaceanstomatogastric ganglion (STG), rat hippocampus, and cortex.Specific aims include determining the effect on phase maintenanceof multiple depressing synapses and intrinsic cell properties inpacemaker-driven networks, determining how multiple depressingsynapses can introduce multiple, co-existent stable firingpatterns in reciprocally-connected networks, and determining howdepressing excitatory and inhibitory synaptic inputs in anafferent-driven network can generate frequency-selective, steadystate, and transient network responses. The investigatorsdevelop and use techniques of geometric singular perturbationtheory to project and analyze the dynamics of these complicated,high-dimensional neuronal networks onto lower-dimensional slowmanifolds. These techniques allow them to understand howdifferent synaptic and intrinsic parameters contribute to andmodulate network behavior. They work closely withexperimentalists who, in a parallel research program, areinvestigating the effects of synaptic depression in thecrustacean STG. Synaptic plasticity refers to the ability of a synapse tochange its strength as a function of its usage. It is widelyfound in neuronal circuits across the brain. While experimentalstudies of short=term synaptic plasticity (STSP) are necessarilyfocused on the particulars of the neural system underinvestigation, modeling of the type proposed here can provideinsights into the more general properties of STSP. Theinvestigators study the possibility that seemingly independentroles for STSP can be grouped together based on how the networkarchitecture constrains STSP to operate. Elucidating the generalprinciples behind these operations provides a framework forunderstanding how STSP participates in very diverse neuronalcomputations across brain regions. Due to its interdisciplinarynature, this project is expected to be of interest to members ofthe experimental, computational and analytic neurosciencecommunities. Additionally, the investigators continue to teachcomputational neuroscience and mathematical biology courses thatthey recently developed. Graduate and undergraduate studentshave the opportunity to work directly with their experimentalcollaborators. Thus students become well positioned to continuepursuits in either experimental or theoretical fields, or in anarea that combines the two. This enhances the development of atrained workforce at the critical intersection of mathematics andbiology.