CompartmentalModelforBinauralCoincidenceDetector.pptVIP

Compartmental Model for Binaural Coincidence Detector Neurons Bertrand Delgutte Zachary Smith and Leonardo Cedolin, SHBT Jonathan Simon, University of Maryland Motivation Provide understanding of how neurons work, and how their structure defines their information-processing capabilities. Traditional teaching formats such as lectures and discussion of literature papers do not give sufficient intuition. Specific Goals Provide hands-on experience with modern compartmental model of a neuron. Experiment with model parameters and learn their role in neural signal processing. Model System Binaural coincidence detector neurons in the auditory brainstem. Interaural time difference is a cue to sound source azimuth Binaural Coincidence Detector Neurons The Model Developed by Jonathan Simon at University of Maryland Based on coincidence detector neurons in the chick Compartmental model: Neuron geometry is explicitly represented Includes known membrane channels (Hodgkin-Huxley, synaptic, low-threshold K+, etc…) All model parameters easily manipulated with GUI Implemented in NEURON, a general, high-level language for neural modeling Building a compartmental model Dendritic filtering and attenuation Point vs. compartmental neuron models Better coincidence detection for 3-compartment model Extra slides Result: ITD tuning improves as synaptic inputs get farther from soma along dendrites Result: There is an optimal frequency for every dendritic length Student Feedback Pros The lab provides the basic understanding of a compartmental model I am happy to work with a full-blown model and not a baby version We had the opportunity to be creative and try different parameters It was very user friendly The simulations really drove home the reasons for using a compartmental model in the first place Cons This lab was a little too complicated… I prefer something more straightforward. All we did was load the configuration file and press `Init Run’. I must admit that the lab was pretty dry. G