Spike synchronization through subthreshold oscillation


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This script reproduces the spike synchronization behavior of integrate-and-fire neurons in response to a subthreshold oscillation. This phenomenon is shown in Fig. 1 of [1]

Neurons receive a weak 35 Hz oscillation, a gaussian noise current and an increasing DC. The time-locking capability is shown to depend on the input current given. The result is then plotted using matplotlib. All parameters are taken from the above paper.

References

First, we import all necessary modules for simulation, analysis, and plotting.

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import nest
import nest.raster_plot

Second, the simulation parameters are assigned to variables.

N = 1000  # number of neurons
bias_begin = 140.0  # minimal value for the bias current injection [pA]
bias_end = 200.0  # maximal value for the bias current injection [pA]
T = 600  # simulation time (ms)

# parameters for the alternating-current generator
driveparams = {"amplitude": 50.0, "frequency": 35.0}
# parameters for the noise generator
noiseparams = {"mean": 0.0, "std": 200.0}
neuronparams = {
    "tau_m": 20.0,  # membrane time constant
    "V_th": 20.0,  # threshold potential
    "E_L": 10.0,  # membrane resting potential
    "t_ref": 2.0,  # refractory period
    "V_reset": 0.0,  # reset potential
    "C_m": 200.0,  # membrane capacitance
    "V_m": 0.0,
}  # initial membrane potential

Third, the nodes are created using Create. We store the returned handles in variables for later reference.

neurons = nest.Create("iaf_psc_alpha", N)
sr = nest.Create("spike_recorder")
noise = nest.Create("noise_generator")
drive = nest.Create("ac_generator")

Set the parameters specified above for the generators using set.

drive.set(driveparams)
noise.set(noiseparams)

Set the parameters specified above for the neurons. Neurons get an internal current. The first neuron additionally receives the current with amplitude bias_begin, the last neuron with amplitude bias_end.

neurons.set(neuronparams)
neurons.I_e = [(n * (bias_end - bias_begin) / N + bias_begin) for n in range(1, len(neurons) + 1)]

Connect alternating current and noise generators as well as spike_recorders to neurons

nest.Connect(drive, neurons)
nest.Connect(noise, neurons)
nest.Connect(neurons, sr)

Simulate the network for time T.

nest.Simulate(T)

Plot the raster plot of the neuronal spiking activity.

nest.raster_plot.from_device(sr, hist=True)
plt.show()

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