This model simulates responses of neurons to interaural time difference (ITD) in the medial superior olive (MSO) of the mammalian brainstem. The model has a bipolar cell structure and incorporates two anatomic observations in the MSO: (1) the axon arises from the dendrite that receives ipsilateral inputs and (2) inhibitory synapses are located primarily on the soma in adult animals. Fine adjustment of the best ITD is achieved by the interplay of somatic sodium currents and synaptic inhibitory currents. The model suggests a mechanism for dynamically "fine-tuning" the ITD sensitivity of MSO cells by the opponency between depolarizing sodium currents and hyperpolarizing inhibitory currents.
Model Type: Neuron or other electrically excitable cell
Cell Type(s): Medial Superior Olive (MSO) cell
Currents: I h; I Sodium; I Potassium
Model Concept(s): Coincidence Detection; Axonal Action Potentials
Simulation Environment: NEURON
Implementer(s): Zhou, Yi [yizhou at bu.edu]
References:
Zhou Y, Carney LH, Colburn HS. (2005). A model for interaural time difference sensitivity in the medial superior olive: interaction of excitatory and inhibitory synaptic inputs, channel dynamics, and cellular morphology. The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience. 25 [PubMed]