Formation of antiwaves in gap-junction-coupled chains of neurons

摘要

Using network models consisting of gap junction coupled Wang-Buszaki neurons,we demonstrate that it is possible to obtain not only synchronous activitybetween neurons but also a variety of constant phase shifts between 0 and \pi.We call these phase shifts intermediate stable phaselocked states. These phaseshifts can produce a large variety of wave-like activity patterns inone-dimensional chains and two-dimensional arrays of neurons, which can bestudied by reducing the system of equations to a phase model. The 2\pi periodiccoupling functions of these models are characterized by prominent higher orderterms in their Fourier expansion, which can be varied by changing modelparameters. We study how the relative contribution of the odd and even termsaffect what solutions are possible, the basin of attraction of those solutionsand their stability. These models may be applicable to the spinal centralpattern generators of the dogfish and also to the developing neocortex of theneonatal rat.