Statistical crossover and nonextensive behavior of the neuronal short-term depression
Year: 2017
Type: report
Abstract: The theoretical basis of neuronal coding, associated with short term degradation in synaptic transmission, is a matter of debate in the literature. In fact, electrophysiological signals are commonly characterized as inversely proportional to stimulus intensity. Among theoretical descriptions of this phenomenon, models based on $1/f$-dependency are employed to investigate the biophysical properties of the short term synaptic depression. In this work we formulated a model based on a paradigmatic \textit{q}-differential equation to obtain a generalized formalism useful for investigation of nonextensivity in this specific type of synaptic plasticity. Our analysis reveals nonextensivity in data from electrophysiological recordings and also a statistical crossover in neurotransmission. In particular, statistical transitions providesadditional support to the hypothesis of heterogeneous release probability of neurotransmitters. On the other hand, the simple vesicle model agrees with data only at low frequency stimulations. Thus, the present work presents a method to demonstrate that short-term depression is not only governed by random mechanisms but also by a nonextensive behavior. Our findings also conciliate morphological and electrophysiological investigations into a coherent biophysical scenario.
Author: Santos, D. O. C.
Institution: Universidade Federal do Sul da Bahia
Language: English
Subfield: Statistical and Nonlinear Physics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W3098896282