AnimatLab Non-Spiking Chemical Synapses

This tutorial describes how to use non-spiking chemical synapses with your integrate and fire neuron models within the AnimatLab simulation environment (http://animatlab.com). AnimatLab is a neuromechanical simulation system that allows you to build a physically accurate, biomechanical model of the body an organism. Hill muscle models within that body can be controlled using biologically realistic neural networks to reproduce behaviors found in the real animals.

The standard method for two neurons to communicate is for the pre-synaptic neuron to fire an action potential. When the depolarization from the action potential reaches the synapse it causes calcium to enter the cell which leads to a release of a vesicle filled with neurotransmitter. This transmitter then activates channels on the post-synaptic neuron to excite or inhibit it.But without that action potential it is unlikely that any neurotransmitter will be released.

non-spiking synapses are different in that they do not require a spike to release their transmitter. Instead, transmitter is released in a graded manner, with increased pre-synaptic depolarization leading to increased release of transmitter, up to a saturation level.

two of the most well-known examples of a non-spiking chemical synapses are the cone and rod cells in the retina.

In this tutorial I will show you how to use non-spiking chemical synapses within animatlab.

Видео AnimatLab Non-Spiking Chemical Synapses канала NeuroRoboticTech