CRCNS: Analysis of synchronization in hybrid neural circuits

描述(申请人提供)：我们的目标是开发一个全面的框架，用于理解包含生物神经元的电路中的同步，其中同步被广泛定义为包括所有锁相节律活动。我们将专注于两种类型的神经振荡器生物样本：重复发放神经元，放电频率与刺激电流逐渐相关；以及爆发神经元，显然只有一个慢变量。大量的神经振荡器可能属于这两种类型中的一种，因此这些结果应该是通用的和有用的，以便比较和对比单峰放电和爆裂神经元的相位重置和相位锁定。之所以选择实验制剂，是因为它们含有尖峰或爆裂的神经元，很容易识别，很容易分离，并以最小的变异性振荡。这使得它们成为使用基于相位重置曲线(PRCs)的理论方法来回答以下问题的最佳体外试验场：PRCs是否足以预测成对的尖峰神经元中的相位锁定和收敛？专业人士能否预测m：n锁相模的存在和稳定性？能否从突发性神经元的电压轨迹来预测PRC对兴奋性刺激的反应？对于兴奋性耦合和不同的爆发持续时间，我们能根据它们的PRO来预测成对爆发神经元的活动吗？这些答案应该广泛适用于产生重复运动活动的中央模式发生器的研究，以及认知各方面潜在的集体同步现象的研究。癫痫发作与某些大脑区域的过度同步有关，与帕金森氏症相关的震颤也是如此。更好地理解同步的一般机制可能最终会为这些疾病提供新的治疗方法。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Our goal is to develop a comprehensive framework for understanding synchronization in circuits containing biological neurons, where synchronization is broadly defined to include all phase-locked rhythmic activity. We will focus on two types of biological exemplars of neural oscillators: repetitively spiking neurons with a gradual dependence of the firing frequency on stimulus current, and bursting neurons that apparently have a single slow variable. A large number of neural oscillators are likely to fall into one of these two categories, hence these results should be general and useful in order to compare and contrast phase resetting and phase locking in single spike firing versus bursting neurons. The experimental preparations were chosen because they contain spiking or bursting neurons that are easily identified, readily isolated, and oscillate with minimal variability. This makes them an optimal in vitro proving ground for answering the following questions, using theoretical methods based on phase resetting curves (PRCs): Are PRCs sufficient to predict phase locking and convergence in pairs of coupled spiking neurons? Can PROs predict the existence and stability of m:n phase-locking modes? Can the PRC in response to excitatory stimuli be predicted from the voltage trajectory of a bursting neuron? Can we predict the activity of pairs of bursting neurons from their PROs for excitatory coupling and for variable burst durations? The answers should have wide applicability in the study of central pattern generators that produce repetitive motor activity, as well as to the collective synchronization phenomena underlying various aspects of cognition. Epileptic seizures are associated with excessive synchronization in certain brain regions, as is the tremor associated with Parkinson's disease. A better understanding of the general mechanisms of synchronization may eventually suggest new therapeutic approaches for these diseases.