Using in vitro and in vivo data we develop the first large-scale biophysically and anatomically realistic model of the basolateral amygdala nucleus (BL), which reproduces the dynamics of the in vivo local field potential (LFP). Significantly, it predicts that BL intrinsically generates the transient gamma oscillations observed in vivo. The model permitted exploration of the poorly understood synaptic mechanisms underlying gamma genesis in BL, and the model's ability to compute LFPs at arbitrary numbers of recording sites provided insights into the characteristics of the spatial properties of gamma bursts. Furthermore, we show how gamma synchronizes principal cells to overcome their low firing rates while simultaneously promoting competition, potentially impacting their afferent selectivity and efferent drive, and thus emotional behavior.
Model Type: Realistic Network; Extracellular; Synapse; Dendrite; Neuron or other electrically excitable cell
Region(s) or Organism(s): Amygdala
Cell Type(s): Hodgkin-Huxley neuron
Currents: I Na,t; I L high threshold; I A; I M; I Sodium; I Calcium; I Potassium; I_AHP; Ca pump; I h; I Na,p; I K
Receptors: AMPA; NMDA; Gaba; Dopaminergic Receptor
Transmitters: Dopamine; Norephinephrine
Model Concept(s): Oscillations; Gamma oscillations; Short-term Synaptic Plasticity
Simulation Environment: NEURON
Implementer(s): Feng, Feng [ffvxb at mail.missouri.edu]
References:
Feng F et al. (2019). Gamma oscillations in the basolateral amygdala: biophysical mechanisms and computational consequences eNeuro.