The Potjans-Diesmann cortical microcircuit model is a widely used model originally implemented in NEST. Here, we re-implemented the model using NetPyNE, a high-level Python interface to the NEURON simulator, and reproduced the findings of the original publication. We also implemented a method for rescaling the network size which preserves first and second order statistics, building on existing work on network theory. The new implementation enables using more detailed neuron models with multicompartment morphologies and multiple biophysically realistic channels. This opens the model to new research, including the study of dendritic processing, the influence of individual channel parameters, and generally multiscale interactions in the network. The rescaling method provides flexibility to increase or decrease the network size if required when running these more realistic simulations. Finally, NetPyNE facilitates modifying or extending the model using its declarative language; optimizing model parameters; running efficient large-scale parallelized simulations; and analyzing the model through built-in methods, including local field potential calculation and information flow measures.
Model Type: Realistic Network; Connectionist Network
Region(s) or Organism(s): Auditory cortex; Olfactory cortex
Cell Type(s): Abstract integrate-and-fire leaky neuron; Abstract integrate-and-fire neuron
Model Concept(s): Detailed Neuronal Models; Simplified Models
Simulation Environment: Python; NEURON; NetPyNE
Implementer(s): Dura-Bernal, Salvador [salvadordura at gmail.com]; Romaro, Cecilia [ceciliaromaro at gmail.com]
References:
Romaro C, Najman FA, Lytton WW, Roque AC, Dura-Bernal S. (2021). NetPyNE Implementation and Scaling of the Potjans-Diesmann Cortical Microcircuit Model Neural computation. 33 [PubMed]