The provided code models neuronal network activity in response to sensory stimuli in the context of the mammalian somatosensory system, specifically focusing on the barrel cortex which processes tactile information from the whiskers of rodents. Here’s how the biological aspects are reflected in the code: ### Biological Model #### 1. **Barrel Cortex and Whisker Representation** The mouse somatosensory cortex, particularly the barrel field, is organized into distinct representations for each whisker. The whiskers (`B1`, `B2`, etc.) in the code correspond to specific barrels in the cortex responsible for processing information from those whiskers. This model integrates this mapping by varying parameters associated with whisker deflection and cell response location. #### 2. **Cell Types and Network Composition** In the model, various excitatory neuron types (like `L2_E2`, `L4py_E2`, etc.) of the mouse cortex are referenced. These represent different layers and excitatory neurons in the cortex. The manipulation removes certain excitatory cells from a specific layer (`E2`) to simulate a network modification or a hypothetical experiment assessing the role of specific cell types in network function. #### 3. **Parametrization of Neuronal Models** The code references files with `.param` extensions. These files likely contain parameters that define the biophysical properties of neurons (e.g., membrane potentials, ion channel properties such as sodium, potassium channel conductances). These properties influence how neurons process incoming signals and are crucial for realistic modeling of neuronal behavior. #### 4. **External Stimuli and Model Configuration** The code prepares parameter sets and scripts to simulate the effect of whisker deflections. Whisker deflection is a typical mechanosensory stimulus used in experiments to understand sensory processing. The variation in `cellLocations` corresponds to different receptive fields or spatial zones within the cortex where processing might occur. ### Execution of Simulations The scripts generated in the code appear to set up for running simulations that describe how the cortex would respond when some excitatory neurons are deprived (`manipulation2`), and how stimulus information from whisker deflections is processed dynamically in altered network configurations. ### Summary This code focuses on modeling the dynamics of the mouse somatosensory system. It simulates the effects of removing certain neuron types from a network during sensory processing, emphasizing the role of specific excitatory neurons across cortical layers in response to whisker stimuli. This approach aids in understanding the underlying neural circuits that contribute to sensory information processing and can contribute to broader studies on neuronal network dynamics, sensory processing, and plasticity.