Biological restraint on the Izhikevich neuron model essential for seizure modeling

Abstract

Izhikevich model of a neuron allows for simulation of spiking pattern that mimics known biological subtypes. When a current within a range typical for biological experiments is injected into the cell the firing pattern produced in the simulation is close to that observed biologically. However, once these neurons are embedded into a network, the level of depolarization is controlled only by the synaptic depolarization received by the simulated connections. Under these conditions there is no limit on the maximum firing rate produced by any of the neurons. Here we introduce a modification of the Izhikevich model to restrict the firing rate. We demonstrate how this modification affects the overall network activity using a simple artificial neural network. The proposed restraint on the Izhikevich model is particularly important for larger scale simulations or when the frequency dependent short-term plasticity is used in the network. Although maximum firing rates are most likely exceeded in simulations of seizure-like activity we show that restriction of neuronal firing frequencies impacts even small networks with moderate levels of activity.

Synaptic Communication Engineering for Future Cognitive Brain–Machine Interfaces

“…Although the model reproduces spiking, bursting, mixed-mode, post-inhibitory, and continuous spiking patterns with frequency adaptation, as well as spike threshold variability, bistability of resting and spiking states, and subthreshold oscillations and resonance [58], it can only depolarize neurons embedded into a network by the synaptic depolarization received by the simulated connections. Under these conditions, there is no upper bound on the maximum firing rate [59].…”

Deep Neural Networks—A Brief History

“…This is not biologically plausible as neurons cannot fire during the absolute refractory period, needed for restoration of their membrane potentials, no matter the strength of the input. We thus corrected the condition for the neuron firing (Strack, Jacobs and Cios, 2013)…”