Abstract
We report a facilitatory role of inhibitory synaptic input that can enhance a neuron's firing rate, in contrast to the conventional belief that inhibition suppresses firing. We study this phenomenon using the Hodgkin-Huxley model of spike generation with random Poisson trains of subthreshold excitatory and inhibitory inputs. Enhancement occurs when, by chance, brief inhibition leads excitation with a favorable timing and counterintuitively induces a reduction of the spike threshold. The basic mechanism is also illustrated with the phaseplane analysis of a two variable model.
Original language | English (US) |
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Article number | 010903 |
Journal | Physical Review E - Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics |
Volume | 73 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 2006 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Statistical and Nonlinear Physics
- Statistics and Probability
- Condensed Matter Physics