The earthworm medial giant fiber (MGF) is composed of many neurons electrically coupled by high fidelity gap junctions. In addition, the MGF exhibits a distinct taper in diameter from anterior to posterior. The role of these gap junctions and their interaction with axonal taper in predicting conduction velocity has not been studied closely in the annelid. A model of an electrical synapse in the MGF was created to investigate the influence of, and interaction between, these two parameters.
Cell Type(s): Hodgkin-Huxley neuron; Earthworm medial giant fiber
Simulation Environment: Python
Implementer(s): Crisp, Kevin [crisp at stolaf.edu]; Heller, Charles [hellerc at ohsu.edu]
References:
Crisp KM, Heller C. (2016). A Hodgkin-Huxley model for conduction velocity in the medial giant fiber of the earthworm, Lumbricus terrestris Impulse.