A major challenge for computational neuroscience is to understand the computational function of lamina-specific synaptic connection patterns in stereotypical cortical microcircuits.We approach this problem by studying ... the dynamical system defined by more realistic cortical microcircuit models as a whole and by investigating the influence that its laminar structure has on the transmission and fusion of information within this dynamical system. The circuit models that we examine consist of Hodgkin--Huxley neurons with dynamic synapses... We investigate to what extent this cortical microcircuit template supports the accumulation and fusion of information contained in generic spike inputs into layer 4 and layers 2/3 and how well it makes this information accessible to projection neurons in layers 2/3 and layer 5. ... We conclude that computer simulations of detailed lamina-specific cortical microcircuit models provide new insight into computational consequences of anatomical and physiological data. See paper for more and details.
Model Type: Realistic Network
Region(s) or Organism(s): Neocortex
Cell Type(s): Neocortex L5/6 pyramidal GLU cell; Neocortex L2/3 pyramidal GLU cell
Currents: I Na,t; I K; I Potassium
Model Concept(s): Temporal Pattern Generation; Simplified Models
Simulation Environment: CSIM (web link to model)
References:
Haeusler S, Maass W. (2007). A statistical analysis of information-processing properties of lamina-specific cortical microcircuit models. Cerebral cortex (New York, N.Y. : 1991). 17 [PubMed]