Ion-channel-based complete synchronization between neurons

Ion-channel-based complete synchronization between neurons

Seido Nagano

Department of Bioinformatics, Ristumeikan University, Japan

https://sysbio-nagano.org/

   Synchronization is an essential mechanism for coordination between system units, including biological systems. In the case of neural networks, synchronization has been primarily studied as coordination between neurons via synapses. However, we show that it is also possible through a completely different mechanism.

   The dynamics of ion channels in neurons is known to depend on membrane potential. On the other hand, membrane potential is thought to be influenced electrically by surrounding neurons. Communication between neurons may therefore also be possible by the electrical influence of surrounding neurons on the nonlinear dynamics of ion channels. We have achieved complete synchronization between both Hodgkin-Huxley and FitzHugh-Nagumo neurons by assuming the above interaction.

   Our scheme shows that strong synchronization can be achieved due to nonlinearity of ion channels even with fairly weak electrical influences between neurons. Furthermore,  our numerical results appear to be in both qualitative and quantitative agreement with the experimental predictions by Anastassiou et al. 

This is an extension of our receptor-based synchronization theory[1] to neural systems.

 

References

[1] S. Nagano, “Receptors as a master key for synchronization of rhythms.” Phys. Rev. E67, 056215(2003).

[2] S. Nagano, "Ion-channel-based complete synchronization between neurons.", to be submitted to Phys. Rev. E.