Response variability in balanced cortical networks

We study the spike statistics of neurons in a network with dynamically balanced excitation and inhibition. Our model, intended to represent a generic cortical column, comprises randomly connected excitatory and inhibitory leaky integrate-and-fire neurons, driven by excitatory input from an external population. The high connectivity permits a mean-field description in which synaptic currents can be treated as Gaussian noise, the mean and autocorrelation function of which are calculated self-consistently from the firing statistics of single model neurons. Within this description, we find that the irregularity of spike trains is controlled mainly by the strength of the synapses relative to the difference between the firing threshold and the post-firing reset level of the membrane potential. For moderately strong synapses we find spike statistics very similar to those observed in primary visual cortex.Comment: 22 pages, 7 figures, submitted to Neural Computatio

Transtorno mental: dificuldades enfrentadas pela família Trastorno mental: dificultades enfrentadas por la familia Mental disorders: difficulties faced by the family

Utilizando uma metodologia qualitativa (entrevistas abertas, desenho-estória e análise temática) identificamos e analisamos 4 categorias (descompasso temporal, culpa, conflitos e perdas) presentes no discurso de mães (e uma irmã) de pacientes psiquiátricos do Núcleo de Atenção Psicossocial (NAPS) de Ribeirão Preto/SP, e avaliamos sua importância conforme o objetivo de se entender a dinâmica da relação entre serviço de saúde mental, paciente psiquiátrico e sua família.<br>Usando una metodología cualitativa (entrevistas abiertas, diseño-historia y análisis temático) en este trabajo identificamos y analizamos 4 categorías (descompás temporal, culpa, conflictos y pérdidas) presentes en el discurso de madres (y una hermana) de pacientes psiquiátricos del Núcleo de Atención Psicosocial (NAPS) de Ribeirão Preto/SP, y evaluamos su importancia de acuerdo con el objetivo de entender la dinámica de la relación entre servicio de salud mental, paciente psiquiátrico y su familia.<br>Using a qualitative methodology (open interviews, story-drawing and thematic analysis), we identify and analyze 4 categories (temporal mismatching, guilt, conflict and loss) found in the discourse of mothers (and one sister) of psychiatric patients receiving treatment at the Center for Psycho-Social Care (NAPS) in Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil, and also evaluate the importance of such categories with a view to understanding the dynamical relationships among mental health services, patients and their families