Influence of external input on waxing and waning of neuronal network oscillations

Abstract

Introduction Experimental observations have reported modulation of cortical oscillations as phases of high synchronization (waxing) followed by periods of reduced synchronization (waning) [1-3]. Although the phenomenon is present in almost all frequency bands, it is still not understood how this is driven. Here we study whether this phenomenon can occur in a network of inhibitory (I) and excitatory (E) cells and what effect external inputs have. Methods Using NEURON, we model a network of Ne excitatory and Ni inhibitory cells such that Ne/Ni = 4. The cells have a single compartment, and include passive channels and voltage dependent Na+, K+ channels. Synaptic connections are random, projecting GABA synapses from I to I and I to E cells and AMPA synapses from E to E and E to I cells. To stimulate the network, each cell receives a baseline of current and a stream of spikes delivered at random intervals across the simulated period. from Eighteenth Annual Computational Neuroscience Meeting: CNS*2009 Berlin, Germany. 18–23 July 2009