Topic: Calcium concentration

Neural circuit functions are stabilized by homeostatic mechanisms at long timescales in response to changes in experience and learning. However, we still do not know which specific physiological variables are being stabilized, nor which cellular or neural-network components comprise the homeostatic machinery. At this point, most evidence suggests that the distribution of firing rates amongst neurons in a brain circuit is the key variable that is maintained around a circuit-specific set-point value in a process called firing rate homeostasis. Here, I will discuss our recent findings that implic

The interplay of the calcium concentration and the anatomical structure at the presynaptic zone of presynaptic boutons is an important challenge of the relationship of form and function in (computational) neuroscience. A simple model system to study such basic effects is the neuromuscular junction of the Drosophila larva (NMJ). At this synapse, specific structures can be found. Its presynaptic boutons are larger than usual vertebrate synapses, also they bear several presynaptic zones. Different anatomic structures can be found at these zones. In part, they incorporate a so-called T-Bar, which,

Across species, neurons possess numerous ion channel types, with a single cell typically expressing tens of channel genes, which translate to hundreds or even thousands of channel protein types, each with different kinetics [1]. Moreover, maximal conductance densities across individuals are also highly variable and subject to neuromodulators which are essential for enabling the nervous system to switch between behaviorally relevant modes [2,3]. This raises the question of how neuromodulators can reliably induce changes in intrinsic neuronal properties across a heterogeneous population. At th