65,020 research outputs found
Detection of subthreshold pulses in neurons with channel noise
Neurons are subject to various kinds of noise. In addition to synaptic noise,
the stochastic opening and closing of ion channels represents an intrinsic
source of noise that affects the signal processing properties of the neuron. In
this paper, we studied the response of a stochastic Hodgkin-Huxley neuron to
transient input subthreshold pulses. It was found that the average response
time decreases but variance increases as the amplitude of channel noise
increases. In the case of single pulse detection, we show that channel noise
enables one neuron to detect the subthreshold signals and an optimal membrane
area (or channel noise intensity) exists for a single neuron to achieve optimal
performance. However, the detection ability of a single neuron is limited by
large errors. Here, we test a simple neuronal network that can enhance the
pulse detecting abilities of neurons and find dozens of neurons can perfectly
detect subthreshold pulses. The phenomenon of intrinsic stochastic resonance is
also found both at the level of single neurons and at the level of networks. At
the network level, the detection ability of networks can be optimized for the
number of neurons comprising the network.Comment: 14 pages, 9 figure
Delay-induced multiple stochastic resonances on scale-free neuronal networks
We study the effects of periodic subthreshold pacemaker activity and
time-delayed coupling on stochastic resonance over scale-free neuronal
networks. As the two extreme options, we introduce the pacemaker respectively
to the neuron with the highest degree and to one of the neurons with the lowest
degree within the network, but we also consider the case when all neurons are
exposed to the periodic forcing. In the absence of delay, we show that an
intermediate intensity of noise is able to optimally assist the pacemaker in
imposing its rhythm on the whole ensemble, irrespective to its placing, thus
providing evidences for stochastic resonance on the scale-free neuronal
networks. Interestingly thereby, if the forcing in form of a periodic pulse
train is introduced to all neurons forming the network, the stochastic
resonance decreases as compared to the case when only a single neuron is paced.
Moreover, we show that finite delays in coupling can significantly affect the
stochastic resonance on scale-free neuronal networks. In particular,
appropriately tuned delays can induce multiple stochastic resonances
independently of the placing of the pacemaker, but they can also altogether
destroy stochastic resonance. Delay-induced multiple stochastic resonances
manifest as well-expressed maxima of the correlation measure, appearing at
every multiple of the pacemaker period. We argue that fine-tuned delays and
locally active pacemakers are vital for assuring optimal conditions for
stochastic resonance on complex neuronal networks.Comment: 7 two-column pages, 5 figures; accepted for publication in Chao
Comparison of Langevin and Markov channel noise models for neuronal signal generation
The stochastic opening and closing of voltage-gated ion channels produces
noise in neurons. The effect of this noise on the neuronal performance has been
modelled using either approximate or Langevin model, based on stochastic
differential equations or an exact model, based on a Markov process model of
channel gating. Yet whether the Langevin model accurately reproduces the
channel noise produced by the Markov model remains unclear. Here we present a
comparison between Langevin and Markov models of channel noise in neurons using
single compartment Hodgkin-Huxley models containing either and
, or only voltage-gated ion channels. The performance of the
Langevin and Markov models was quantified over a range of stimulus statistics,
membrane areas and channel numbers. We find that in comparison to the Markov
model, the Langevin model underestimates the noise contributed by voltage-gated
ion channels, overestimating information rates for both spiking and non-spiking
membranes. Even with increasing numbers of channels the difference between the
two models persists. This suggests that the Langevin model may not be suitable
for accurately simulating channel noise in neurons, even in simulations with
large numbers of ion channels
Point singularities and suprathreshold stochastic resonance in optimal coding
Motivated by recent studies of population coding in theoretical neuroscience,
we examine the optimality of a recently described form of stochastic resonance
known as suprathreshold stochastic resonance, which occurs in populations of
noisy threshold devices such as models of sensory neurons. Using the mutual
information measure, it is shown numerically that for a random input signal,
the optimal threshold distribution contains singularities. For large enough
noise, this distribution consists of a single point and hence the optimal
encoding is realized by the suprathreshold stochastic resonance effect.
Furthermore, it is shown that a bifurcational pattern appears in the optimal
threshold settings as the noise intensity increases. Fisher information is used
to examine the behavior of the optimal threshold distribution as the population
size approaches infinity.Comment: 11 pages, 3 figures, RevTe
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