Berlin 2018 – wissenschaftliches Programm

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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik

BP 34: Neuroscience

BP 34.3: Vortrag

Donnerstag, 15. März 2018, 15:45–16:00, H 1058

Modeling the electrical activity of pacemaker neurons: from milliseconds to days — •Pablo Rojas and Martin Garcia — Theoretical Physics, Universität Kassel, 34132 Kassel, Germany

Molecular circadian oscillators in pacemaker neurons consist of interlocked feedback loops in gene transcription. Membrane electrical activity is regulated by genetic, and consequently exhibits a circadian pattern, but the mechanisms for this are object of current research [1]. Despite the usefulness of Hodgkin-Huxley model, few work has been done to account for a long-time behavior of membrane electrical activity[2]. Pacemaker neurons show autonomous circadian oscillations, but new properties emerge in the collective behavior [3]. Several properties found in electrophysiology recordings have been suggested to be linked to functional biological implications [4]. We propose an extension of the Hodgkin-Huxley scheme, that allows for computing the dynamics of electrical activity over long times, enabling inputs from molecular clock as well as coupling between neurons. Our results and predictions are discussed with the analysis of long-term in vivo electrophysiology recordings from Leucophaea maderae accessory medulla. Our model has been able to reproduce distinct patterns found in experimental data, and hint possible functional implications for the described behavior.

[1] CN Allen et al. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol 2017;9:a027714

[2] C Vasalou and MA Henson . PLoS Comput Biol 6(3) (2010)

[3] DK Welsh et al. Annu Rev Physiol. 2010 ; 72: 551-577.

[4] G Werner. Front Physiol. 2010; 1: 15.