Intradendritic electrophysiological recordings reveal a bewildering
repertoire of complex electrical spikes and plateaus that are difficult
to reconcile with conventional notions of neuronal function.
In this paper we argue that such dendritic events are just an exuberant
expression of a more important mechanism - a proportional
current amplifier whose primary task is to offset electrotonic losses.
Using the example of functionally important synaptic inputs to the
superficial layers of an anatomically and electrophysiologically reconstructed
layer 5 pyramidal neuron, we derive and simulate the
properties of conductances that linearize and amplify distal synaptic
input current in a graded manner. The amplification depends
on a potassium conductance in the apical tuft and calcium conductances
in the apical trunk
