Modeling and simulation of retinal neurons and the neuroinformatics tools

Abstract

Event Abstract Back to Event Modeling and simulation of retinal neurons and the neuroinformatics tools Yoshimi Kamiyama1* and Shiro Usui2 1 Aichi Prefectural University, Japan 2 RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Japan The retina transforms the light into nerve spikes which are carried by the optic nerve to the brain. The retina has been thought to be a window to the brain because of its accessibility and suitability for neuroscientific investigation. It is thought to be one of the few parts of the vertebrate brain where we can reasonably explain its purpose and how it works. The retina is an attractive model system for approaching the question of the information processing role of biological mechanisms of neurons. The physiology and anatomy of the retina are relatively well known. Physiological studies of the retina have uncovered a number of cellular and subcellular mechanisms such as phototransduction and the characteristics of the ion channels found in retinal neurons. Neuroanatomical studies have revealed the morphological principles govering the structure of the retina. The former data provide information about the functional role of ion channels in generating and shaping the light response of the retinal neurons. It is as yet impossible to provide a complete model of the retina. But it is now possible to identify some computational operations that the retina perfoms and to relate them to specific physiological mechanisms, on the basis of computational modeling work. Over the last decade, we have developed mathematical models of retinal neurons based on neurophysiological details. These models can reveal what happens if a particular ionic current is active or inactive. One can then ask what advantages are given on the visual system by having the particular class of ion channel present in the neuron. Here, we show the mathematical models of the retinal neurons, and demonstrate that the electircal responses are quantitatively accounted for by the models. The models we have developed provide a unified framework for the undestanding of the functional role of cellular mechanisms of retinal neurons and their integrative functions. In the present study, we analyzed the underlying mechanisms of a rod photoreceptor that behaves as a bandpass filter which has long been a mystery. We discovered that the kinetics of the calcium dependent ionic currents characterize the bandpass filtering of rod signals. We also developed a stochastic model of spike generation in retinal ganglion cells. The stochastic model showed precise and reliable spikes to randomly fluctuating current similar to those of experimental data. We found the spike timing was much influenced by the outward currents, not by the sodium current which riggers spikes. The simulation analysis with these models requires some software tools. We developed three software systems; (1) XML-based retinal neuron modeling language which stores not only mathematical models, but also all calculation conditions and improves model reproducibility, (2)Grid portal simulation environment which provides seamless access to computing resources over the network, (3)Realtime retinal neuron simulator with USB camera device for understanding the role of retinal neurons in visual information processing. These tools highly improved simulation efficiency for retinal modeling and simulation. 81b tn_07-29-2008-10-52_81b tn_81b 07-29-2008-10-52_81b Conference: Neuroinformatics 2008, Stockholm, Sweden, 7 Sep - 9 Sep, 2008. Presentation Type: Oral Presentation Topic: Live Demonstrations Citation: Kamiyama Y and Usui S (2008). Modeling and simulation of retinal neurons and the neuroinformatics tools. Front. Neuroinform. Conference Abstract: Neuroinformatics 2008. doi: 10.3389/conf.neuro.11.2008.01.121 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 28 Jul 2008; Published Online: 28 Jul 2008. * Correspondence: Yoshimi Kamiyama, Aichi Prefectural University, Aichi, Japan, usuishiro@riken.jp Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract Supplemental Data The Authors in Frontiers Yoshimi Kamiyama Shiro Usui Google Yoshimi Kamiyama Shiro Usui Google Scholar Yoshimi Kamiyama Shiro Usui PubMed Yoshimi Kamiyama Shiro Usui Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.