Function and energy consumption constrain neuronal biophysics in a canonical computation: Coincidence detection.

ABSTRACT: Neural morphology and membrane properties vary greatly between cell types in the nervous system. The computations and local circuit connectivity that neurons support are thought to be the key factors constraining the cells' biophysical properties. Nevertheless, additional constraints can be expected to further shape neuronal design. Here, we focus on a particularly energy-intense system (as indicated by metabolic markers): principal neurons in the medial superior olive (MSO) nucleus of the auditory brainstem. Based on a modeling approach, we show that a trade-off between the level of performance of a functionally relevant computation and energy consumption predicts optimal ranges for cell morphology and membrane properties. The biophysical parameters appear most strongly constrained by fun

SUBMITTER: Remme MWH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6312336 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature