The afterhyperpolarization (AHP) is canonically viewed as a major factor underlying the refractory period, serving to limit neuronal firing rate. We recently reported (Wang et al, J. Neurophys. 116:456, 2016) that enhancing the amplitude of the fast AHP in a relatively slowly firing neuron (versus fast spiking neurons), augments neuronal excitability in dentate gyrus granule neurons expressing gain-of-function BK channels. Here we present a novel, quantitative hypothesis for how varying the amplitude of the fast AHP (fAHP) can, paradoxically, influence a subsequent spike tens of milliseconds later.
Region(s) or Organism(s): Dentate gyrus
Cell Type(s): Dentate gyrus granule GLU cell
Currents: I K,Ca; I T low threshold; I Na,p
Model Concept(s): Action Potentials
Simulation Environment: NEURON
Implementer(s): Jaffe, David B [david.jaffe at utsa.edu]
References:
Jaffe DB, Brenner R. (2018). A computational model for how the fast afterhyperpolarization paradoxically increases gain in regularly firing neurons. Journal of neurophysiology. 119 [PubMed]