Modeling Neuronal Response to Simultaneous and Sequential Multi-Site Synaptic Stimulation

Abstract

The flow of information in the brain theorizes that each neuron in a network receives synaptic inputs and sends off its processed signals to neighboring neurons. Here, we model these synaptic inputs to understand how each neuron processes these inputs and transmits neurotransmitters to neighboring neurons. We use the NEURON simulation package to stimulate a neuron at multiple synaptic locations along its dendritic tree. Accumulation of multiple synaptic inputs causes changes in the neuron's membrane potential leading to firing of an action potential. Our simulations show that simultaneous synaptic stimulation approaches firing of an action potential at lesser inputs compared to sequential stimulation at multiple sites distributed along several dendritic branches.