Generation of time delays: simplified models of intracellular signaling in cerebellar Purkinje cells

V. Steuber, D. Willshaw, A. van Ooyen

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

In many neuronal systems, information is encoded in temporal spike patterns. The recognition and storage of temporal patterns requires the generation and modulation of time delays between inputs and outputs. In cerebellar Purkinje cells, stimulation of metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) results in a delayed calcium and voltage response that has been implicated in classical conditioning and temporal pattern recognition. Here, we analyse and simplify a complex model of the intracellular signalling network that has been proposed as a substrate for this delayed response. We systematically simplify the original model, present a minimal model of time delay generation, and show that a delayed response can be produced by the combination of negative feedback and autocatalysis, without any intervening signalling steps that would contribute additive delays. The minimal model is analysed using phase plane methods, and classified as an excitable system. We discuss the implication of excitability for computations performed by intracellular signalling networks in general. © 2006 Taylor & Francis.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)173-191
Number of pages19
JournalNetwork
Volume17
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2006

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