Consistency of heterogeneous synchronization patterns in complex weighted networks.

Synchronization within the dynamical nodes of a complex network is usually considered homogeneous through all the nodes. Here we show, in contrast, that subsets of interacting oscillators may synchronize in different ways within a single network. This diversity of synchronization patterns is promoted by increasing the heterogeneous distribution of coupling weights and/or asymmetries in small networks. We also analyze consistency, defined as the persistence of coexistent synchronization patterns regardless of the initial conditions. Our results show that complex weighted networks display richer consistency than regular networks, suggesting why certain functional network topologies are often constructed when experimental data are analyzed.

On the classification of experimental data modeled via a stochastic leaky integrate and fire model through boundary values.

We present a computational algorithm aimed to classify single unit spike trains on the basis of observed interspikes intervals (ISI). The neuronal activity is modeled with a stochastic leaky integrate and fire model and the inverse first passage time method is extended to the Ornstein-Uhlenbeck (OU) process. Differences between spike trains are detected in terms of the boundary shape. The proposed classification method is applied to the analysis of multiple single units recorded simultaneously in the thalamus and in the cerebral cortex of unanesthetized rats during spontaneous activity. We show the existence of at least three different firing patterns that could not be classified using the usual statistical indices.

Parvalbumin deficiency affects network properties resulting in increased susceptibility to epileptic seizures.

Networks of GABAergic interneurons are of utmost importance in generating and promoting synchronous activity and are involved in producing coherent oscillations. These neurons are characterized by their fast-spiking rate and by the expression of the Ca(2+)-binding protein parvalbumin (PV). Alteration of their inhibitory activity has been proposed as a major mechanism leading to epileptic seizures and thus the role of PV in maintaining the stability of neuronal networks was assessed in knockout (PV-/-) mice. Pentylenetetrazole induced generalized tonic-clonic seizures in all genotypes, but the severity of seizures was significantly greater in PV-/- than in PV+/+ animals. Extracellular single-unit activity recorded from over 1000 neurons in vivo in the temporal cortex revealed an increase of units firing regularly and a decrease of cells firing in bursts. In the hippocampus, PV deficiency facilitated the GABA(A)ergic current reversal induced by high-frequency stimulation, a mechanism implied in the generation of epileptic activity. We postulate that PV plays a key role in the regulation of local inhibitory effects exerted by GABAergic interneurons on pyramidal neurons. Through an increase in inhibition, the absence of PV facilitates synchronous activity in the cortex and facilitates hypersynchrony through the depolarizing action of GABA in the hippocampus.

Dopamine modulation of glutamate metabotropic receptors in conditioned reaction of sensory motor cortex neurons of the cat.

The dopamine modulation of microiontophoretic application of antagonists of glutamate metabotropic synaptic transmission was studied in the sensory motor cortex of awake cats during instrumental conditioned reflex. The substances depressed the background and intensity of evoked impulse activity of pyramidal neurons of the sensory-motor cortex and provoked significant increases in the latency of impulse reaction and corresponding conditioned movements of animals. Simultaneous application of the antagonists and dopamine (DA) eliminated their depression of the background and evoked activity of neurons and decreased the latency of the impulse reactions and movements. Similar qualitative effects were observed in experiments with simultaneous application of biccuculine and (RS)-alpha-methyl-4-carboxyphenylglycine. It is supposed that the DA modulation in the brain consists in stabilizing the background and evoked activity of cortical neurons during reduced intensity of metabotropic glutamatergic synaptic transmission. Such modulation can be important when considering some pathological disorders of glutamatergic transmission.

Dopamine modulation of activity of cat sensorimotor cortex neurons during conditioned reflexes.

The effects of iontophoretic application of dopamine and selective D1 or D2 dopamine receptor agonists and antagonists on impulse activity of neurons of the deep layers of the sensorimotor cortex of cat were investigated during performance of a conditioned paw movement task. The application of dopamine, Quinpirole (selective D2 receptor agonist) or SKF 38393 (selective D1 receptor agonist) increased both background (P<0.001) and evoked impulse activity (P<0.05 for selective agonists). Selective D2 and D1 receptor antagonists (Sulpiride and SKF 83566, respectively) both increased the latency of neural responses and significantly increased the latency of the conditioned paw movements (P<0.01). These data suggest that during natural physiological functions subcortical dopamine neurons provide facilitation of activity pyramidal neurons of sensorimotor cortex.