The code provides a detailed model of a Neocortical Layer 5b Pyramidal Cell (L5PC) from the neocortex, based on the work of Etay Hay and colleagues in computational neuroscience. This model is designed to capture various active properties of these neurons, particularly focusing on their dendritic and perisomatic behavior concerning action potential generation.
Pyramidal neurons are a type of excitatory neuron found in various regions of the brain, including the neocortex. They are characterized by a large soma (cell body), a prominent apical dendrite, and basal dendrites. They play crucial roles in synaptic integration and plasticity, forming critical components of neural circuits involved in higher-order processing.
Neocortical Layer 5b pyramidal cells are a subtype of pyramidal neurons located in Layer 5 of the cortical column. They are known for their unique morphology and electrophysiological properties, which make them critical for cortical output via long-range axonal projections. They are involved in motor output and integration of sensory input.
The model explicitly incorporates various ionic channels that are essential for the function of these neurons:
Passive Properties (pas): The membrane capacitance (cm), axial resistance (Ra), and passive leak current (e_pas) are defined, which contribute to the cell's electrical properties.
Calcium Channels (Ca_LVAst, Ca_HVA): Low-voltage activated (LVA) and high-voltage activated (HVA) calcium channels are incorporated into the somatic and apical sections. These channels are important for calcium dynamics, which are critical for synaptic plasticity and various cellular signaling pathways.
Sodium Channels (NaTa_t, Nap_Et2): The fast transient sodium channel (NaTa_t) and the persistent sodium channel (Nap_Et2) help model action potential firing and the neuron's excitability.
Potassium Channels (SKv3_1, SK_E2, K_Tst, K_Pst, Im): The model includes several potassium channels that contribute to action potential repolarization and afterhyperpolarization phases, which are crucial for action potential shaping and firing frequency adaptation.
Ih Channel (Ih): The hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated channel plays a role in the modulation of neuronal excitability and can affect the timing of action potential generation.
The spatial distribution of ion channels varies between the somatic, apical, and basal dendrites, reflecting the natural differentiation in channel density observed in biological neurons. Particular attention is made to distribute channels such as Ih, Ca_LVAstbar, and Ca_HVAbar differentially across the apical dendrite, mimicking the gradient of channel expression observed in experiments.
The code also models intracellular calcium dynamics using CaDynamics_E2, which includes the decay rate and sensitivity (gamma). Calcium concentrations affect various signaling pathways and are crucial for synaptic transmission and neuroplasticity.
Overall, the code is a detailed computational representation of the biophysical properties of L5 pyramidal neurons, aiming to replicate their electrophysiological behavior by embedding key ionic currents through well-characterized ion channels. These aspects of the code are crucial for simulating how these neurons integrate synaptic inputs and generate action potentials across different neuronal compartments, in alignment with their known biological functions.