Sharpness of spike initiation in neurons explained by compartmentalization

PLoS Computational Biology
Romain Brette

Abstract

In cortical neurons, spikes are initiated in the axon initial segment. Seen at the soma, they appear surprisingly sharp. A standard explanation is that the current coming from the axon becomes sharp as the spike is actively backpropagated to the soma. However, sharp initiation of spikes is also seen in the input-output properties of neurons, and not only in the somatic shape of spikes; for example, cortical neurons can transmit high frequency signals. An alternative hypothesis is that Na channels cooperate, but it is not currently supported by direct experimental evidence. I propose a simple explanation based on the compartmentalization of spike initiation. When Na channels are placed in the axon, the soma acts as a current sink for the Na current. I show that there is a critical distance to the soma above which an instability occurs, so that Na channels open abruptly rather than gradually as a function of somatic voltage.

References

Dec 1, 1968·The Journal of Cell Biology·A PetersI R Kaiserman-Abramof
Apr 6, 2001·Physical Review Letters·N BrunelL F Abbott
Jun 9, 2001·Circulation Research·S O MarxA R Marks
Oct 13, 2001·Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism : Official Journal of the International Society of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism·D Attwell, S B Laughlin
Dec 3, 1957·The Journal of Physiology·J S COOMBSJ C ECCLES
Jul 15, 2005·Journal of Neurophysiology·Romain Brette, Wulfram Gerstner
Sep 2, 2005·The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience·Luisa L ScottNace L Golding
Jan 13, 2006·The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience·Gytis Baranauskas, Marco Martina
Apr 21, 2006·Nature·Björn NaundorfMaxim Volgushev
May 4, 2006·The Journal of Biological Chemistry·Maria L MolinaJose M González-Ros
Oct 18, 2006·The Journal of General Physiology·John P Dekker, Gary Yellen
Jan 5, 2007·Nature·David A McCormickYuguo Yu
Sep 26, 2007·PLoS Computational Biology·Elaine Angelino, Michael P Brenner
Dec 7, 2007·Journal of Neurophysiology·Laurent BadelMagnus J E Richardson
Jan 22, 2008·Nature Neuroscience·Maarten H P KoleGreg J Stuart
Jul 18, 2008·The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience·Yuguo YuDavid A McCormick
Oct 7, 2008·Nature Neuroscience·Maarten H P Kole, Greg J Stuart
Sep 12, 2009·Science·Henrik AlleJörg R P Geiger
Oct 17, 2009·Science·Wulfram Gerstner, Richard Naud
Dec 17, 2009·Frontiers in Neuroscience·Dan F M Goodman, Romain Brette
Mar 13, 2010·Frontiers in Neuroinformatics·Cyrille RossantRomain Brette
Jun 4, 2010·The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience·Lorin S MilescuJeffrey C Smith
Jul 16, 2010·PLoS Computational Biology·Jonathan Platkiewicz, Romain Brette
Jul 30, 2010·The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience·Christoph Schmidt-Hieber, Josef Bischofberger
Apr 30, 2011·Physiological Reviews·Dominique DebanneGisèle Alcaraz
Aug 26, 2011·The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience·Tatjana TchumatchenkoMaxim Volgushev
Sep 14, 2011·The Journal of Physiology·Matthew H Higgs, William J Spain
Jan 31, 2012·Neuron·Maarten H P Kole, Greg J Stuart
Jan 24, 2013·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Gytis BaranauskasIlya A Fleidervish
Feb 9, 2013·The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience·Vladimir IlinMaxim Volgushev
Mar 22, 2013·Journal of Neurophysiology·Richard A FelixAnna K Magnusson

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Apr 12, 2014·PLoS Computational Biology·Bertrand FontaineRomain Brette
Dec 22, 2015·Acta Pharmacologica Sinica·Ohad Stoler, Ilya A Fleidervish
May 23, 2015·Biological cybernetics·Víctor LeivaFernando Marmolejo-Ramos
Apr 10, 2015·PLoS Computational Biology·Romain Brette
Apr 26, 2017·PloS One·Maria TelenczukRomain Brette
Jun 28, 2018·Journal of Neurophysiology·Martina MichalikovaRichard Kempter
Jul 10, 2018·PLoS Computational Biology·Joshua H GoldwynDavid Terman
Feb 21, 2018·Nature Communications·Nathan W GouwensAnton Arkhipov
Jul 24, 2020·PLoS Computational Biology·Christophe VerbistMichele Giugliano
Dec 9, 2016·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Mustafa S HamadaMaarten H P Kole
Oct 18, 2019·Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience·Pepe Alcami, Ahmed El Hady
Oct 27, 2017·The European Journal of Neuroscience·Daniele LinaroMichele Giugliano
Feb 7, 2019·Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience·Scott A AlpizarMichael B Hoppa
Sep 14, 2018·F1000Research·Marco Arieli Herrera-Valdez
Feb 11, 2020·Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience·Jean-Marc GoaillardFabien Tell
Aug 15, 2021·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Aurélie FékétéDominique Debanne

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Software Mentioned

Brian simulator

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.