Short-Term Plasticity in a Computational Model of the Tail-Withdrawal Circuit in Aplysia

Authors

Douglas A Baxter
John H Byrne

Language

English

Publication Date

6-1-2007

Journal

Neurocomputing

DOI

10.1016/j.neucom.2006.10.080

PMID

17957237

PMCID

PMC2040302

PubMedCentral® Posted Date

October 2007

PubMedCentral® Full Text Version

Author MSS

Abstract

The tail-withdrawal circuit of Aplysia provides a useful model system for investigating synaptic dynamics. Sensory neurons within the circuit manifest several forms of synaptic plasticity. Here, we developed a model of the circuit and investigated the ways in which depression (DEP) and potentiation (POT) contributed to information processing. DEP limited the amount of motor neuron activity that could be elicited by the monosynaptic pathway alone. POT within the monosynaptic pathway did not compensate for DEP. There was, however, a synergistic interaction between POT and the polysynaptic pathway. This synergism extended the dynamic range of the network, and the interplay between DEP and POT made the circuit responded preferentially to long-duration, low-frequency inputs.

Keywords

Synaptic Depression, Post-tetanic Potentiation, Information Processing

Published Open-Access

yes

Recommended Citation

Douglas A Baxter and John H Byrne, "Short-Term Plasticity in a Computational Model of the Tail-Withdrawal Circuit in Aplysia" (2007). Faculty, Staff and Student Publications. 355.
https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/uthmed_docs/355