Demonstration of the effect of a minor pharmacological synaptic change at the network level. Clonazepam, a benzodiazepine, enhances inhibition but is paradoxically useful for certain types of seizures. This simulation shows how inhibition of inhibitory cells (the RE cells) produces this counter-intuitive effect.
Model Type: Realistic Network
Region(s) or Organism(s): Thalamus
Cell Type(s): Thalamus geniculate nucleus/lateral principal GLU cell; Thalamus reticular nucleus GABA cell
Currents: I Na,t; I T low threshold; I K; I CAN
Transmitters: Gaba
Model Concept(s): Activity Patterns; Bursting; Therapeutics; Epilepsy; Calcium dynamics
Simulation Environment: NEURON
Implementer(s): Lytton, William [bill.lytton at downstate.edu]
References:
Lytton WW. (1997). Computer model of clonazepam's effect in thalamic slice. Neuroreport. 8 [PubMed]