PubMed Health⌕ Search

PubMed · 10482000

Silicon synaptic conductances.

Abstract

We have developed compact analog integrated circuits that simulate two synaptic excitatory conductances. A four-transistor circuit captures the dynamics of an excitatory postsynaptic current caused by a real AMPA conductance. A six-transistor circuit simulates the effects of a real voltage-dependent NMDA conductance. The postsynaptic current dynamics are modeled by a current mirror integrator with adjustable gain. The voltage dependence of the silicon NMDA conductance is realized by a differential pair. We show the operation of these silicon synaptic conductances and their integration with the silicon neuron (Mahowald and Douglas, 1991).

Explore related subjects

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

C Rasche, R J Douglas. Silicon synaptic conductances.. https://doi.org/10.1023/a%3A1008963426194

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related citations

Estimating the number of release sites and probability of firing within the nerve terminal by statistical analysis of synaptic charge.

Investigating the function of individual synapses is essential to understanding the mechanisms that influence the efficacy of chemical synaptic transmission. The known simplicity of the synaptic structure at the crayfish neuromuscular junction (NMJ) and its quantal nature of release allows an assessment of discrete synapses within the motor nerve terminals. Our goal in this article is to investigate the effect of the stimulation frequency on the number of active release sites (n) and the probability of release (p) at those active sites. Because methods based on direct counts often provide unstable joint estimates of (n) and (p), we base our analysis on mixture modeling. In particular, the mixture modeling approach is used to estimate (n) and (p) for stimulation frequencies of 1 Hz, 2 Hz, and 3 Hz. Our results indicate that as the stimulation frequency increases, new sites are recruited (thus increasing n) and the probability of release (p) increases.

Action Potentials↗

Associations between the morphology and physiology of ventral-horn neurons in the adult turtle.

This study compared some morphologic and physiological properties of adult turtle spinal motoneurons (MNs) vs. interneurons (INs). Reconstructions were made of 20 biocytin-stained cells, which had been previously studied physiologically in 2-mm-thick slices of lumbosacral spinal cord. The intracellularly measured physiological properties included resting potential, input resistance (R(N)), threshold (rheobase, I(Rh)), and slope of the stimulus current (I) -spike frequency (f) relation. The seven morphologic properties that were quantified for each cell included three indices of somal size (diameter, area, volume), and four of dendritic size: the number of first- and last-order branches, rostrocaudal extent, and sigma individual lengths. Significant differences were shown between all seven morphologic parameters for MNs vs. INs. Despite the small sample size, significant differences were also shown for five of seven parameters for high-threshold vs. low-threshold MNs, and three of seven for low-threshold MNs vs. INs. These latter three parameters were the number of terminal dendritic branches, their rostrocaudal extent, and the sigma dendritic lengths. Linear associations for the MN + IN and the MN samples were stronger between the four dendritic parameters than between soma-dendritic ones. Exponential associations between morphologic and physiological properties were mostly significant (28 of 30), and their strength was in the order I(Rh) < R(N) < f/I slope for the MN +IN sample and I(Rh) < R(N) = f/I slope for the MN sample. There is discussion of the relevance of the above findings to the provisional classification of turtle ventral-horn neurons on the basis of electrophysiology alone.

Action Potentials↗

Response of the infrared receptors of a crotaline snake to ethanol.

The pit organs of crotaline snakes can sense infrared (IR). The pit membrane has a finer, flatter, more convoluted vasculature than other sensory organs. Using extracellular recording from IR-sensitive trigeminal ganglion (TG) neurons (primary neurons) and tectal (OT) neurons of the crotaline snake Trimeresurus flavoviridis, we examined the IR response to ethanol (EtOH) in vivo. The response to EtOH was recorded in the TG and OT 20-80 s after 10% EtOH in Ringer's solution (100 microl/ 500 g body weight) was injected via the heart. The responses to EtOH and those to lower or higher temperature stimulation were additive. At a constant temperature (25 degrees C), EtOH significantly potentiated the IR-triggered discharges of IR-sensory pathways in this snake. These results suggest that the IR response to EtOH is due to either its vasodilatory effect on the abundant vasculature of the pit membrane or its chemical effect on temperature-sensitive receptors.

Action Potentials↗