CRCNS: Analysis of synchronization in hybrid neural circuits

描述（由申请人提供）：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。我们将集中在两种类型的神经振荡器的生物学范例：重复尖峰神经元的放电频率对刺激电流的逐渐依赖，和爆裂的神经元，显然有一个单一的慢变量。大量的神经振荡器很可能属于这两类之一，因此这些结果应该是通用的和有用的，以比较和对比相位重置和相位锁定在单次发放与爆发神经元。选择实验制剂是因为它们含有尖峰或爆发神经元，这些神经元易于识别，易于分离，并且以最小的变异性振荡。这使得它们成为回答以下问题的最佳体外试验场，使用基于相位重置曲线（PRCs）的理论方法：PRCs是否足以预测耦合尖峰神经元对的锁相和收敛？PRO能预言m：n锁相模的存在和稳定性吗？能否从爆发神经元的电压轨迹预测PRC对兴奋性刺激的反应？我们能否从兴奋性耦合和不同爆发持续时间的PRO预测爆发神经元对的活动？这些答案应该在产生重复运动活动的中央模式发生器的研究中具有广泛的适用性，以及对认知各个方面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，与帕金森病相关的震颤也是如此。更好地了解同步化的一般机制可能最终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.