Emergent central pattern generator behavior in gap-junction-coupled Hodgkin-Huxley style neuron model

  • Authors:
  • Kyle G. Horn;Heraldo Memelli;Irene C. Solomon

  • Affiliations:
  • Program in Neuroscience and Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Stony Brook Universty, Stony Brook, NY;Department of Physiology and Biophysics and Department of Computer Science, Stony Brook Universty, Stony Brook, NY;Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Stony Brook Universty, Stony Brook, NY

  • Venue:
  • Computational Intelligence and Neuroscience
  • Year:
  • 2012

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Abstract

Most models of central pattern generators (CPGs) involve two distinct nuclei mutually inhibiting one another via synapses. Here, we present a single-nucleus model of biologically realistic Hodgkin-Huxley neurons with random gap junction coupling. Despite no explicit division of neurons into two groups, we observe a spontaneous division of neurons into two distinct firing groups. In addition, we also demonstrate this phenomenon in a simplified version of the model, highlighting the importance of afterhy perpolarization currents (IAHP) to CPGs utilizing gap junction coupling. The properties of these CPGs also appear sensitive to gap junction conductance, probability of gap junction coupling between cells, topology of gap junction coupling, and, to a lesser extent, input current into our simulated nucleus.