A Communication Theoretical Analysis of Synaptic Multiple-Access Channel in Hippocampal-Cortical Neurons

Abstract

Communication between neurons occurs via transmission of neural spike trains through junctional structures, either electrical or chemical synapses, providing connections among nerve terminals. Since neural communication is achieved at synapses, the process of neurotransmission is called synaptic communication. Learning and memory processes are based on the changes in strength and connectivity of neural networks which usually contain multiple synaptic connections. In this paper, we investigate multiple-access neuro-spike communication channel, in which the neural signal, i.e., the action potential, is transmitted through multiple synaptic paths directed to a common postsynaptic neuron terminal. Synaptic transmission is initiated with random vesicle release process from presynaptic neurons to synaptic paths. Each synaptic channel is characterized by its impulse response and the number of available postsynaptic receptors. Here, we model the multiple-access synaptic communication channel, and investigate the information rate per spike at the postsynaptic neuron, and how postsynaptic rate is enhanced compared to single terminal synaptic communication channel. Furthermore, we analyze the synaptic transmission performance by incorporating the role of correlation among presynaptic terminals, and point out the postsynaptic rate improvement.

Past Results, Present Trends, and Future Challenges in Intrabody Communication

“…Authors of [226] depicted the single-input single-output (SISO) intrabody communication between two neurons, and the multi-input single-output (MISO) synaptic communication channel. Authors of [229] investigated the transmitting rate per spike at the neuron and how to enhance the rate compared to SISO channel. A multipleaccess channel model was shown in [224], which mainly consisted of four stages to determine the communication performance.…”

On Performance of SISO Nanonetworks-based Molecular Communications

“…The neurotransmitters bind to the receptor at postsynaptic neuron. The binding process opens the channel on postsynaptic neuron in order to allow the flow of ions to the neuron [5].…”

“…Neurotransmitters are carrier signals, used to transmit nanoscale information within neuron system. Presynaptic signals are transmitted via release of neurotransmitter from the presynaptic neuron, which binds to receptors at the postsynaptic neuron [5]. Although a neuron typically releases only one type of neurotransmitter, there are many different types of neurotransmitters [6].…”

A queueing-theoretical delay analysis for intra-body nervous nanonetwork

“…Several studies on molecular communication [5,6,7,8,9] target the nervous nanonetwork to develop communication-theoretical understanding of the nervous system. These studies result in the formulation of various models of synaptic channels under different scenarios.…”