In a biophysically-based model, we show that a network of excitatory (E) and inhibitory (I) neurons that initially displays asynchronous firing can generate transient gamma oscillatory activity in response to simulated brief pulses of ACh. ACh effects are simulated as transient modulation of the conductance of an M-type K+ current which is blocked by activation of muscarinic receptors and has significant effects on neuronal excitability. The ACh-induced effects on the M current conductance, gks, change network dynamics to promote the emergence of network gamma rhythmicity through a Pyramidal-Interneuronal Network Gamma (PING) mechanism.
Model Type: Realistic Network
Region(s) or Organism(s): Prefrontal cortex (PFC)
Currents: I Potassium; I M
Receptors: Muscarinic
Transmitters: Acetylcholine
Model Concept(s): Oscillations; Gamma oscillations
Simulation Environment: MATLAB
References:
Lu Y, Sarter M, Zochowski M, Booth V. (2020). Phasic cholinergic signaling promotes emergence of local gamma rhythms in excitatory-inhibitory networks. The European journal of neuroscience. 52 [PubMed]