Alterations of maps induced by blockage of synaptic receptors in a computer simulation of the somatosensory system

摘要

In the present study we investigate effects of the blockage of excitatory and inhibitory synaptic channels in a specific region of the representational area of digit 3 using a model of the somatosensory system developed with the neurosimulator GENESIS. The model presents fast, regular and burst spiking neurons distributed in layers from II/III to V and tactile receptors representing the hand surface. The results obtained suggest that the bolckage modeifies the somatosensory plasticity and show alterations in somatotopic maps depending on the type of the synaptic channel bolcked.