When two wrongs make a right: synchronized neuronal bursting from combined electrical and inhibitory coupling. (15th May 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Reimbayev, Reimbay; Daley, Kevin; Belykh, Igor
• Is Part Of: Philosophical transactions. Volume 375:Number 2096(2017)
• Publication Date: 2017-05-15
• Subjects: synchronization -- bursting neurons -- inhibition -- electrical coupling -- duty cycle; Physical sciences -- Periodicals; Engineering -- Periodicals; Mathematics -- Periodicals; 500
• DOI: 10.1098/rsta.2016.0282
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1364-503X

Abstract

Abstract : Synchronized cortical activities in the central nervous systems of mammals are crucial for sensory perception, coordination and locomotory function. The neuronal mechanisms that generate synchronous synaptic inputs in the neocortex are far from being fully understood. In this paper, we study the emergence of synchronization in networks of bursting neurons as a highly non-trivial, combined effect of electrical and inhibitory connections. We report a counterintuitive find that combined electrical and inhibitory coupling can synergistically induce robust synchronization in a range of parameters where electrical coupling alone promotes anti-phase spiking and inhibition induces anti-phase bursting. We reveal the underlying mechanism, which uses a balance between hidden properties of electrical and inhibitory coupling to act together to synchronize neuronal bursting. We show that this balance is controlled by the duty cycle of the self-coupled system which governs the synchronized bursting rhythm. This article is part of the themed issue 'Mathematical methods in medicine: neuroscience, cardiology and pathology'.