A simple computer model of excitable synaptically connected neurons.
1Laboratory of Medical Physics, Institute of
Experimental
Physics, Warsaw University, Warsaw, Poland.
2Maryland Epilepsy Center, Department of
Neurology, University of Maryland School of Medicine and Medical
Center, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, USA.
3Department of Physiology, University of Maryland
School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, USA.
The space-lumped two variable neuron model is studied. The extension of the neural model by adding a simple synaptic current allows to demonstrate neural interactions. The production of synchronous burst activity in this simple two neuron excitatory loop is modeled, including the influence of random background excitatory input. The ability of the neuron model to spatially and temporally integrate inputs is shown. Two refractory periods after stimuli were identified and their role in burst cessation is shown. Our findings show that simple neural units without long-lasting membrane processes are capable of generating long lasting patterns of activity. The results of simulation of simple background activity suggest that an increase in background activity tends to cause decreased activity of the network. This phenomenon as well as existence of two refractory periods allows for burst cessation without inhibition in this simple model.
Biological Cybernetics., 77:71-77, (1997).