The code provided is a computational implementation of a modified Hodgkin-Huxley model, specifically aiming to simulate the ionic currents responsible for action potentials in neurons, with particular modifications that reflect more detailed dynamics of the sodium conductance attenuation in neurons. Here's a summary of the biological basis the code is trying to model:
Ion Channels:
m
) and inactivation (h
) gating variables.n
).il
).Conductance Attenuation:
s
) which accounts for the "sodium conductance attenuation," influencing how sodium currents behave particularly in different neuronal compartments (e.g., between soma and axon).Membrane Potentials:
ena
for Na+ and ek
for K+) which influence how ions flow across the membrane based on the difference between these potentials and the actual membrane potential (v
).Temperature Dependence:
celsius = 34 (degC)
, which affects the kinetics of gating variables.Activation and Inactivation Dynamics:
m
, h
, and n
, which are dynamic attributes affected by voltage (membrane potential v
) and determine the flow of ions.varss(v, i)
and vartau(v, i)
calculate steady-state values and time constants for these gates based on the voltage, reflecting the probabilistic nature of channel opening and closing.Ionic Currents:
ina
): Modeled as a product of the maximal sodium conductance (gnabar
), the gating variables m
, h
, and s
, and the driving force (v - ena)
.ik
): Modeled similarly, based on the maximal potassium conductance (gkbar
), gating variable n
, and driving force (v - ek)
.il
): Proportional to the difference between membrane potential and leak reversal potential (el
).ar2
, taumin
, and vhalfr
, reflecting complex biological processes that impact neuronal excitability and signal propagation in different parts of the neuron.By integrating these components, the code simulates the dynamic behavior of neuronal action potentials and how they are influenced by specific channel properties and conductance features. This adaptation is key for understanding neuronal signal processing and might be particularly relevant when investigating different compartments, such as soma and axon, as indicated by the code comments.