All or none action potentials?

Managing anatomically complex model cells with the CellBuilder. Importing morphometric data with NEURON's Import3D tool or Robert Cannon's CVAPP. Where to find detailed morphometric data.
Post Reply
alexandrapierri
Posts: 69
Joined: Wed Jun 17, 2015 5:31 pm

All or none action potentials?

Post by alexandrapierri »

Hello

Are the action potentials modeled using mutlicompartmental modeling in NEURON all or none?
If yes what is the minimum amplitude of an action potential (30, 40mV less than that)? Should events overshooting 0mV be considered as APs or as subthreshold EPSPs?

thank you,
A
ted
Site Admin
Posts: 6286
Joined: Wed May 18, 2005 4:50 pm
Location: Yale University School of Medicine
Contact:

Re: All or none action potentials?

Post by ted »

Are the action potentials modeled using mutlicompartmental modeling in NEURON all or none?
That depends entirely on the equations that are being solved. It is possible to use NMODL and/or a state machine) to implement a model that approximates all or none spiking as closely as is possible with finite precision arithmetic. That said, the equations that govern channel gating in most models that use one or more sections to represent the properties of a neuron do not result in all or none spiking. Prime examples are models that use the Hodgkin-Huxley sodium and potassium currents.

For any given model cell, the way to answer your second question is by performing your own computational experiments and exercising your own judgment in the context of the aims of your modeling project. For both your second and third questions, you might find it helpful to read some of the experimental literature on spike and epsp amplitudes--it's plentiful, and a lot of it is freely accessible. Or at the least, talk with someone who actually does experiments.
Post Reply