A Communication Theoretical Analysis of Synaptic Multiple-Access Channel in Hippocampal-Cortical Neurons

Communication between neurons occurs via transmission of neural spike trains through junctional structures, either electrical or chemical synapses, providing connections among nerve terminals. Since neural communication is achieved at synapses, the process of neurotransmission is called synaptic com...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:IEEE transactions on communications 2013-06, Vol.61 (6), p.2457-2467
Main Authors: Malak, D., Akan, O. B.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
achievable rate
Applied sciences
Artificial intelligence
Channels
Communication channels
Computer science
control theory
systems
Connectionism. Neural networks
Correlation
Exact sciences and technology
Joints
Neural networks
neuro-spike communication
Neurons
Neurotransmitters
Probability
Radio frequency
Spikes
Stochastic processes
synapse
Synapses
Synaptic multiple-access channel
Systems, networks and services of telecommunications
Telecommunications
Telecommunications and information theory
Terminals
Transmission and modulation (techniques and equipments)
Vesicles
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Summary:Communication between neurons occurs via transmission of neural spike trains through junctional structures, either electrical or chemical synapses, providing connections among nerve terminals. Since neural communication is achieved at synapses, the process of neurotransmission is called synaptic communication. Learning and memory processes are based on the changes in strength and connectivity of neural networks which usually contain multiple synaptic connections. In this paper, we investigate multiple-access neuro-spike communication channel, in which the neural signal, i.e., the action potential, is transmitted through multiple synaptic paths directed to a common postsynaptic neuron terminal. Synaptic transmission is initiated with random vesicle release process from presynaptic neurons to synaptic paths. Each synaptic channel is characterized by its impulse response and the number of available postsynaptic receptors. Here, we model the multiple-access synaptic communication channel, and investigate the information rate per spike at the postsynaptic neuron, and how postsynaptic rate is enhanced compared to single terminal synaptic communication channel. Furthermore, we analyze the synaptic transmission performance by incorporating the role of correlation among presynaptic terminals, and point out the postsynaptic rate improvement.
ISSN:0090-6778
1558-0857
DOI:10.1109/TCOMM.2013.042313.120799