Abstract
We integrate cell micropatterning technology with dynamic clamp electrophysiology to realize a hybrid neuronal network of biological and computational neurons for investigating the effect of neuronal firing properties on the network function. A simple convergent neuronal network unit, consisting of three neurons connected in a two-input one-output architecture, is considered. We first show computationally that the output of the convergent unit changes from a logical AND gate-like state to an OR gate-like state with a minor perturbation in synaptic weight which is physiologically plausible. Then, using a hybrid network of a primary rat hippocampal neuron and model neurons, we demonstrate that this functional tuning can be physically embedded. The nonlinearity of neuronal activation underlies the ability to abruptly switch between the two output states, which is also verified by conductance modulation experiments. Our work demonstrates that dynamic clamp technology extends the constructive approach using cell micropatterning for investigating the cellular mechanisms of signal processing within well-defined neuronal networks.
Original language | English (US) |
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Article number | 133703 |
Journal | Applied Physics Letters |
Volume | 113 |
Issue number | 13 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Sep 24 2018 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:We thank Professor Shutaro Katsurabayashi (Fukuoka University) and Dr. Ryosuke Matsumura (Tohoku University) for assistance in patch-clamp experiments and Professor Michio Niwano (Tohoku Fukushi University) for inspiring comments. This study was supported by the JSPS KAKENHI (Nos. 15K17449 and 18H03325), the JST CREST Program (No. JPMJCR14F3), and the Cooperative Research Project Program of the Research Institute of Electrical Communication at Tohoku University.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 Author(s).