EVENT DETAILS AND ABSTRACT

Title: The effects of noisy synaptic input on neuronal responses
Speaker: Larry Abbott
Speaker Info: Brandeis University
Brief Description:
Special Note: More current information may be available at Plan-it Purple
Abstract:

Neurons in vivo typically receive a continuous barrage of both excitatory and inhibitory input. How does this affect their responses to stimuli? In a combination of modeling studies and in vitro recordings, we have found that background input, consisting of balanced excitatory and inhibitory components, can change the gain of neuronal responses. Furthermore, it allows neurons to accurately reflect the temporal dynamics of their inputs, even up to very high frequencies. These results suggest that neurons receive two classes of inputs; one class in which excitation and inhibition act in opposition to generate selective responses to various aspects of a stimulus, and another class in which excitation and inhibition work together to control the gain or amplitude of the selective response.