The code provided models a network of neurons with a focus on understanding general properties and dynamics that are common across different neural network types. Here are the key biological aspects that the model captures:
Timestep (dt) and Simulation Time (tsim): The model uses discrete timesteps to update the state of the neurons, reflecting the temporal dynamics of biological neurons over a simulated time period.
Voltage (V): This variable represents the membrane potential of neurons, a fundamental aspect of neuronal function. Changes in voltage determine if a neuron will spike, which in biological terms translates to the neuron depolarizing past a firing threshold.
Firing Threshold (Tmax) and Modulatory Effects: The model allows for modulation of the resting potential and firing threshold, akin to how biological neurons can have their excitability altered by neuromodulators. Parameters like Tmax represent these threshold changes, considering both states of the system with and without modulation.
Charging Time Constant (tau): This reflects the rate at which the neuron’s membrane potential responds to inputs, similar to the membrane time constant in real neurons which affects how quickly they can fire in response to synaptic inputs.
Number of Neurons (ncells): The model encompasses a network of 100 neurons, allowing for the study of population dynamics and interactions within a network.
Sparseness (S): The sparseness function calculates the level of activity across the network, measuring how many neurons are active at a given time compared to the total number. This relates to the coding strategy of the brain, where usually only a small subset of neurons are active simultaneously.
Connections (SetConnections): The function models synaptic connections between neurons, taking into account types such as normal, auto-associative, and grouped connections. It captures how neurons are or are not connected, reflecting neurobiological architectures from simple feedforward to more complex, recurrent networks.
Connection Type (Conntype): Different connectivity models represent how neurons might be wired together, reflecting different biological architectures such as local connections typical in cortical columns or more random connections seen in other brain areas.
Modulation (ModValue, Mod): Modulation represents influences such as neurotransmitters or other biochemical signals that alter neuron excitability and synaptic strength. The ability for these values to be dynamic (as indicated by ModValue = -1) suggests capturing how real neurons modulate their behavior based upon feedback or changing conditions in the environment.
Non-linearity and Hill Coefficient (Beta, K): These parameters relate to the non-linear response properties of neurons, akin to saturation and sensitivity effects observed in real neural firing and synapse responses.
Overall, the code is aimed at simulating the fundamental properties of neuronal networks and neuron dynamics, capturing key aspects of how neurons interact, respond to stimuli, and are modulated biologically.