Multistability of bursting rhythms in a half-center oscillator and the protective effects of synaptic inhibition.

ABSTRACT: For animals to meet environmental challenges, the activity patterns of specialized oscillatory neural circuits, central pattern generators (CPGs), controlling rhythmic movements like breathing and locomotion, are adjusted by neuromodulation. As a representative example, the leech heartbeat is controlled by a CPG driven by two pairs of mutually inhibitory interneurons, heart interneuron (HN) half-center oscillators (HCO). Experiments and modeling indicate that neuromodulation of HCO navigates this CPG between dysfunctional regimes by employing a co-regulating inverted relation; reducing Na⁺/K⁺ pump current and increasing hyperpolarization-activated (h-) current. Simply reducing pump activity or increasing h-current leads to either seizure-like bursting or an asymmetric

SUBMITTER: Ellingson PJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11442309 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature