Coordination of Motor Neurons by the Leech Heartbeat Central Pattern Generator: Modeling the Role of the Inhibitory Input and Electrical Coupling.

@article{citeulike:2944609, abstract = {Previously we presented a quantitative description of the spatiotemporal pattern of inhibitory synaptic input from the heartbeat CPG to segmental motor neurons that drive heartbeat in the medicinal leech and the resultant coordination of CPG interneurons and motor neurons (Norris et al. 2006; Norris et al. 2007a; b). To begin elucidating the mechanisms of coordination, we explore intersegmental and side-to-side coordination in an ensemble model of all heart motor neurons and their known synaptic inputs and electrical coupling. Model motor neuron intrinsic properties were kept simple enabling us to determine the extent to which input and electrical coupling acting together can account for observed coordination in the living system in the absence of a substantive contribution from the motor neurons themselves. The living system produces an asymmetric motor pattern: motor neurons on one side fire nearly in synchrony (synchronous), while on the other they fire in a rear-to-front progression (peristaltic). The model reproduces the general trends of intersegmental and side-to-side phase relations among motor neurons, but the match with the living system is not quantitatively accurate. Thus realistic (experimentally determined) inputs do not produce similarly realistic output in our model suggesting that motor neuron intrinsic properties may contribute to their coordination. By varying parameters that determine electrical coupling, conduction delays, intraburst synaptic plasticity, and motor neuron excitability, we show that the most important determinant of intersegmental and side-to-side phase relations in the model was the spatiotemporal pattern of synaptic inputs, yet phasing was influenced significantly by electrical coupling.}, address = {Emory University.}, author = {Garcia, Paul S S. and Wright, Terrence Michael M. and Cunningham, Ian R R. and Calabrese, Ronald L L. }, citeulike-article-id = {2944609}, doi = {10.1152/jn.90579.2008}, issn = {0022-3077}, journal = {Journal of neurophysiology}, keywords = {cpg, motor, network\_dynamics, spatiotemporal\_patterns}, month = {June}, posted-at = {2008-06-30 14:47:40}, priority = {2}, title = {Coordination of Motor Neurons by the Leech Heartbeat Central Pattern Generator: Modeling the Role of the Inhibitory Input and Electrical Coupling.}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/jn.90579.2008}, year = {2008} }

TY - JOUR ID - citeulike:2944609 L3 - citeulike-article-id:2944609 TI - Coordination of Motor Neurons by the Leech Heartbeat Central Pattern Generator: Modeling the Role of the Inhibitory Input and Electrical Coupling. JF - Journal of neurophysiology AD - Emory University. SN - 0022-3077 N2 - Previously we presented a quantitative description of the spatiotemporal pattern of inhibitory synaptic input from the heartbeat CPG to segmental motor neurons that drive heartbeat in the medicinal leech and the resultant coordination of CPG interneurons and motor neurons (Norris et al. 2006; Norris et al. 2007a; b). To begin elucidating the mechanisms of coordination, we explore intersegmental and side-to-side coordination in an ensemble model of all heart motor neurons and their known synaptic inputs and electrical coupling. Model motor neuron intrinsic properties were kept simple enabling us to determine the extent to which input and electrical coupling acting together can account for observed coordination in the living system in the absence of a substantive contribution from the motor neurons themselves. The living system produces an asymmetric motor pattern: motor neurons on one side fire nearly in synchrony (synchronous), while on the other they fire in a rear-to-front progression (peristaltic). The model reproduces the general trends of intersegmental and side-to-side phase relations among motor neurons, but the match with the living system is not quantitatively accurate. Thus realistic (experimentally determined) inputs do not produce similarly realistic output in our model suggesting that motor neuron intrinsic properties may contribute to their coordination. By varying parameters that determine electrical coupling, conduction delays, intraburst synaptic plasticity, and motor neuron excitability, we show that the most important determinant of intersegmental and side-to-side phase relations in the model was the spatiotemporal pattern of synaptic inputs, yet phasing was influenced significantly by electrical coupling. KW - cpg KW - motor KW - network_dynamics KW - spatiotemporal_patterns AU - Garcia, Paul S AU - Wright, Terrence Michael AU - Cunningham, Ian R AU - Calabrese, Ronald L PY - 2008/06/25/ UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/jn.90579.2008 ER -