" ... We use the lamprey as a model for investigating the role of this phasic modulation of the reticulospinal activity, because the brainstem–spinal cord networks are known down to the cellular level in this phylogenetically oldest extant vertebrate. We describe how the phasic modulation of reticulospinal activity from the spinal CPG ensures reliable steering/turning commands without the need for a very precise timing of on- or offset, by using a biophysically detailed large-scale (19,600 model neurons and 646,800 synapses) computational model of the lamprey brainstem–spinal cord network. To verify that the simulated neural network can control body movements, including turning, the spinal activity is fed to a mechanical model of lamprey swimming. ..."
Model Type: Realistic Network; Neuron or other electrically excitable cell; Synapse; Dendrite
Region(s) or Organism(s): Lamprey, Spinal cord, Brainstem
Cell Type(s): Spinal lamprey neuron
Currents: I Na,t; I A; I K; I K,Ca; I_Ks
Receptors: AMPA; NMDA; Glycine
Model Concept(s): Bursting; Temporal Pattern Generation; Oscillations; Synchronization; Spatio-temporal Activity Patterns; Detailed Neuronal Models; Spike Frequency Adaptation
Simulation Environment: GENESIS
Implementer(s): Kozlov, Alexander [akozlov at nada.kth.se]
References:
Kozlov AK, Kardamakis AA, Hellgren Kotaleski J, Grillner S. (2014). Gating of steering signals through phasic modulation of reticulospinal neurons during locomotion. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 111 [PubMed]