Models of Initiation and Propagation of Dendritic Spikes in Hippocampal CA1 Pyramidal Neurons

  • Date: 03/21/2008
Lecturer(s):

William L. Kath (Northwestern University)

Location: 

University of British Columbia

Topic: 

In computational models of hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons with
active dendrites, distal synaptic inputs trigger dendritic spikes, but
in many cases these spikes do not propagate reliably to the soma to
produce output action potentials in the axon. The computational models
show, moreover, that the probability of axonal action potential
initiation increases dramatically if the distal dendritic inputs are
accompanied by small amounts of more proximal synaptic input. In this
case, the propagation of the dendritic spikes appears to be gated by
the more proximal inputs. The mechanisms for this phenomenon, as well
as experimental results designed to test the predictions of the
computational models, will be discussed.

William L. Kath is a professor of Engineering Sciences and Applied
Mathematics at Northwestern University, and a co-director of the
Northwestern Institute on Complex Systems. He is also affiliated with
the Department of Neurobiology and Physiology and with the Center for
Photonic Computing and Communication at Northwestern University. His
main research interests include computational neuroscience and
modelling of fibre-optic communications.

Other Information: 

IAM - PIMS - MITACS
DISTINGUISHED COLLOQUIUM SERIES

Sponsor: 

pimsmitacsiamubc