Factors that control amplitude of EPSPs in dendritic neurons

A. Lev-Tov, J. P. Miller, R. E. Burke, W. Rall

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

30 Scopus citations

Abstract

We have used a computer-based mathematical model of α-motoneurons and of group Ia synaptic input to them, based on anatomical and electrophysiological data from the cap spinal cord, in order to examine the effects of variations in neuron size and input resistance and of conductance magnitude and duration on the generation of excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs). The first set of calculations were designed to test the possible role of nonlinear EPSP summation in producing a differential distribution of posttetanic potentiation of group Ia EPSPs, described in the preceding paper The results suggest that the negative correlations observed between the degree of posttetanic potentiation of Ia EPSPs and initial (pretetanic) EPSP amplitude as well as with the input resistance of the postsynaptic motoneurons can be explained in part by the inherent nonlinearity between conductance change and the resultant potential change at chemical synapses. In a second set of calculations, we used the same model system to evaluate the effects produced by variations in neuronal membrane area, input resistance, and specific membrane resistivity, as well as of the density of excitatory synaptic input on the peak amplitude of EPSPs. With parameters constrained to match the properties of α-motoneurons and group Ia synaptic input, EPSP amplitudes were most sensitive to changes in synaptic density and were much less sensitive to alterations in neuron input resistance and specific membrane resistivity when synaptic density was constant.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)399-412
Number of pages14
JournalJournal of Neurophysiology
Volume50
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1983
Externally publishedYes

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