We built a computational model of a peripheral nerve trunk in which the interstitial space between the fibers and the tissues is modelled using a resistor network, thus enabling distance-dependent ephaptic coupling between myelinated axons and between fascicles as well. We used the model to simulate a) the stimulation of a nerve trunk model with a cuff electrode, and b) the propagation of action potentials along the axons. Results were used to investigate the effect of ephaptic interactions on recruitment and selectivity stemming from artificial (i.e., neural implant) stimulation and on the relative timing between action potentials during propagation.
Model Type: Extracellular; Axon
Cell Type(s): Myelinated neuron
Model Concept(s): Ephaptic coupling; Stimulus selectivity
Simulation Environment: NEURON; Python
References:
Capllonch-Juan M, Sepulveda F. (2020). Modelling the effects of ephaptic coupling on selectivity and response patterns during artificial stimulation of peripheral nerves. PLoS computational biology. 16 [PubMed]