Burst generation by electrically coupled network in the snail Helisoma: Analysis using computer simulation

Merickel, Michael B.; Kater, Stanley B.; Eyman, E

doi:10.1016/0006-8993(78)90539-5

Cited by 7 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 19 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…As an example of this, we have been interested in determining whether electrical coupling between nonbursting neurons is capable of supporting repetitive bursting activity. Our simulations of electrically coupled networks involved simple, generalized neurons and demonstrated that electrical coupling can provide synchronization between neurons but does not appear to be able to support repetitive bursting (Merickel, Kater, & Eyman 1978). These simulation results led us to look at the membrane properties of individual cells which were found to be extremely important.…”

Section: Single-cell Versus Network Properties and The Use Of Modelsmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…I would like to suggest that the methods are in hand and that it is simply a matter of time and effort. For example, the recent work of Merickel and colleagues (Merickel et al 1977(Merickel et al , 1978Kaneko et al 1978;Merickel & Gray 1980) has provided the basic network and the neuron membrane characterization of a CPG as well as models that fit the known data and generally explain the oscillatory behavior of the system. The details that remain to be described are not beyond our capabilities.…”

Section: A Practical Approach To Understanding Central Pattern Generamentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

At what level will pattern generators be understood?

Pentreath

1980

Behav Brain Sci

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Section: Single-cell Versus Network Properties and The Use Of Modelsmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: A Practical Approach To Understanding Central Pattern Generamentioning

confidence: 99%

At what level will pattern generators be understood?

Pentreath

1980

Behav Brain Sci

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Investigation of burst generation by the electrically coupled cyberchron network in the snail Helisoma using a single‐electrode voltage clamp

Merickel

Gray

1980

J. Neurobiol.

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This paper describes the results of investigating burst generation by the cyberchron network in the snail Helisoma. The cyberchron network is composed of aproximately 20 electrically coupled neurons and controls the feeding behavior of the snail. The electrical coupling between network members has made it particularly difficult to distinguish between the importance and involvement of single-cell and network properties in burst generation by this system. The present investigations utilized the new single-electrode voltage clamp to examine the membrane properties and network interactions of the cyberchron neurons: (1) A slow outward current is activated by moderately large depolarizing commands (-40 to 0 mV) and does not undergo inactivation decay (i.e., decline in magnitude) during a command potential step maintained for 10 sec or more. The lack of inactivation of the outward current in cyberchron neurons appears to be due to the dominating role of a Ca-dependent K current. (2) There are two functionally distinct classes of cyberchrons--current generator cyberchrons and follower cyberchrons. (3) Primary current generator cyberchrons have membrane properties similar to endogenous bursting neurons (e.g., persistent inward Ca current and negative resistance region in I-V plot) and appear to provide the main driving and timing current for the rest of the network. (4) The vast majority of cyberchrons are secondary current generator cyberchrons with membrane properties which exhibit inward-going rectification and appear to burst as a result of regenerative excitation with one another and the primary current generator cyberchrons. (5) The second class of cyberchrons are driven by the electrical synaptic input from the current generator cyberchrons, do not exhibit inward-going rectification, and are called follower cyberchrons. (6) Burst termination is due to activation of a slow outward tail current in most cyberchrons during the burst (probably Ca-activated K current) which causes a hyperpolarization in individual cyberchrons, terminating the burst. (7) Decay of the outward tail current causes the cyberchrons to depolarize, which activates the persistent inward Ca current in the primary current generator cyberchrons, starting the burst cycle anew.

show abstract

Activity patterns in radular retractor motoneurones of the snail,Planorbarius

Brace

Quicke

1981

J. Comp. Physiol.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Burst generation by electrically coupled network in the snail Helisoma: Analysis using computer simulation

Cited by 7 publications

References 19 publications

At what level will pattern generators be understood?

At what level will pattern generators be understood?

Investigation of burst generation by the electrically coupled cyberchron network in the snail Helisoma using a single‐electrode voltage clamp

Activity patterns in radular retractor motoneurones of the snail,Planorbarius

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About