Dynamics of excitable tree networks: Application to sensory neurons

ORAL

Abstract

We study the collective dynamics of diffusively coupled excitable elements on small tree networks with regular and random connectivity, which model sensory neurons with branched myelinated distal terminals. Examples of such neurons include touch receptors, muscle spindles, and some electroreceptors. We developed a theory that predicts the collective spiking activity in the physiologically-relevant strong coupling limit. We show that the mechanism of coherent firing is rooted in the synchronization of local activity of individual nodes, even though peripheral nodes may receive random independent inputs. The structural variability in random tree networks translates into collective network dynamics leading to a wide range of firing rates and coefficients of variations, which is most pronounced in the strong coupling regime.

*AKN and ABN acknowledge support by the Neuroscience Program, by Quantitative Biology Institute and Ohio Material institute at
Ohio University. LSG thanks Ohio University for hospitality and support.

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Presenters

  • Ali Khaledi Nasab

    • Department of Physics and Astronomy, Ohio University

Authors

  • Ali Khaledi Nasab

    • Department of Physics and Astronomy, Ohio University

  • Justus Kromer

    • Stanford University
    • Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University

  • Lutz Schimansky-Geier

    • Department of Physics, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

  • Alexander Neiman

    • Department of Physics and Astronomy, Ohio University