Depolarization induced suppression of excitation and the emergence of ultraslow rhythms in neural networks

Phys Rev Lett. 2010 Feb 12;104(6):068101. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.104.068101. Epub 2010 Feb 8.

Abstract

Ultraslow fluctuations (0.01-0.1 Hz) are a feature of intrinsic brain activity of as yet unclear origin. We propose a candidate mechanism based on retrograde endocannabinoid signaling in a synaptically coupled network of excitatory neurons. This is known to cause depolarization-induced suppression of excitation (DISE), which we model phenomenologically. We construct emergent network oscillations in a globally coupled network and show that for strong synaptic coupling DISE can lead to a synchronized population burst at the frequencies of resting brain rhythms.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Action Potentials / physiology*
  • Animals
  • Models, Neurological*
  • Nerve Net / physiology*
  • Neurons / physiology