Abstract:

The aim of this project is to get familiar with mathematical models of single neurons and to get non-trivial results of comparison for the most important models. If consider the case of only current injection into a neuron, it is well known that the first model (exponential integrate-and-fire model with parameters fitted to experiments) reproduces membrane voltage of a real neuron very well, the second (Hodgkin-Huxley model) reflects biophysical mechanisms of spike generation, the third (Izhikevich model) very efficiently, in a simple way, reproduces behavior of many types of neurons. However in nature not only synaptic current controls a neuron, but synaptic conductance as well. Which of the models is good if both, current and conductance, vary?

Project prerequisites: Basic knowledge on ordinary differential equations, Matlab, cellular neurophysiology (ionic channels, membrane excitability, etc.)

Associated topics: mathematical modeling, neurophysiology

About lecturer:

Dr. Anton Chizhov,
Ph.D. in Physics (fluid dynamics).