A theoretical basis for large coefficient of variation and bimodality in neuronal interspike interval distributions

W. John Wilbur, John Rinzel

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

We consider the classic Stein (1965) model for stochastic neuronal firing under random synaptic input. Our treatment includes the additional effect of synaptic reversal potentials. We develop and employ two numerical methods (in addition to Monte Carlo simulations) to study the relation of the various parameters of the model to the shape of the theoretical interspike interval distribution. Contrary to the results of Tuckwell (1979) we are unable to account, on the basis of substantial synaptic inhibition and with parameter settings in the known physiologic range, for experimental interspike interval distributions which exhibit large coefficients of variation or bimodality. We therefore introduce a time varying threshold into the model, which readily allows for such distributions and which has physiological justification.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)345-368
Number of pages24
JournalJournal of Theoretical Biology
Volume105
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1983

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Statistics and Probability
  • Modeling and Simulation
  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
  • General Immunology and Microbiology
  • General Agricultural and Biological Sciences
  • Applied Mathematics

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