Dissecting the Phase Response of a Model Bursting Neuron

TL;DR

This paper analyzes the complex phase response properties of a bursting neuron model, revealing intricate behaviors and sensitivities that differ from simpler spiking models, using both computational and analytical methods.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed analysis of the phase response curves of the Hindmarsh-Rose bursting neuron model, highlighting their complex structure and sensitivity to perturbations.

Findings

BPRCs are more complex than Type I and II PRCs.

Burst timing is highly sensitive to perturbations.

Phase response dynamics vary significantly between weak and strong inputs.

Abstract

We investigate the phase response properties of the Hindmarsh-Rose model of neuronal bursting using burst phase response curves (BPRCs) computed with an infinitesimal perturbation approximation and by direct simulation of synaptic input. The resulting BPRCs have a significantly more complicated structure than the usual Type I and Type II PRCs of spiking neuronal models, and they exhibit highly timing-sensitive changes in the number of spikes per burst that lead to large magnitude phase responses. We use fast-slow dissection and isochron calculations to analyze the phase response dynamics in both weak and strong perturbation regimes.