HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (18) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Tateno, T. Articles by Robinson, H.P.C. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Tateno, T. Articles by Robinson, H.P.C.

Rate Coding and Spike-Time Variability in Cortical Neurons With Two Types of Threshold Dynamics

Department of Physiology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom

Submitted 30 June 2005; accepted in final form 22 December 2005

Neurons and dynamical models of spike generation display two different classes of threshold behavior: type 1 [firing frequency vs. current (f–I) relationship is continuous at threshold] and type 2 (discontinuous f–I). With steady current or conductance stimulation, regular-spiking (RS) pyramidal neurons and fast-spiking (FS) inhibitory interneurons in layer 2/3 of somatosensory cortex exhibit type 1 and type 2 threshold behaviors, respectively. We compared the postsynaptic firing variability of type 1 RS and type 2 FS cells, during naturalistic, fluctuating conductance input. In RS neurons, increasing the level of independently random, shunting inhibition caused a monotonic increase in spike reliability, whereas in FS interneurons, there was an optimum level of shunting inhibition for achieving the most reliable spike generation and the most precise spike-time encoding. This was observed over a range of different degrees of synchrony, or correlation, in the input. RS cells displayed a progressive rise in spike jitter during natural-like transient burst inputs, whereas for FS cells, jitter was mostly kept low. Furthermore, RS cells showed encoding of the input level in the spike shape, whereas FS cells did not. These differences between the two cell types are consistent with a role of RS neurons as rate-coding integrators, and a role of FS neurons as resonators controlling the coherence of synchronous firing.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				T. Tateno and H.P.C. Robinson Integration of Broadband Conductance Input in Rat Somatosensory Cortical Inhibitory Interneurons: An Inhibition-Controlled Switch Between Intrinsic and Input-Driven Spiking in Fast-Spiking Cells J Neurophysiol, February 1, 2009; 101(2): 1056 - 1072. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y. Guo, J. E. Rubin, C. C. McIntyre, J. L. Vitek, and D. Terman Thalamocortical Relay Fidelity Varies Across Subthalamic Nucleus Deep Brain Stimulation Protocols in a Data-Driven Computational Model J Neurophysiol, March 1, 2008; 99(3): 1477 - 1492. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. F. Galan, G. B. Ermentrout, and N. N. Urban Optimal Time Scale for Spike-Time Reliability: Theory, Simulations, and Experiments J Neurophysiol, January 1, 2008; 99(1): 277 - 283. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. L. Kimmel and T. Moore Temporal Patterning of Saccadic Eye Movement Signals J. Neurosci., July 18, 2007; 27(29): 7619 - 7630. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]