Neuronal Parameter Space Visualization

Definition

The visual display of the behavior of a neuron, a neuron model, or a network of neurons or neuron models, for a number of parameters which govern model behavior or describe a series of observations.

Detailed Description

Computational neuron and network models have a number of free parameters that influence the models’ behavior. For example, a leaky integrate-and-fire model may allow for adjusting two parameters, the leak conductance and the resting potential. More parameters are needed to characterize more elaborate point neuron models like the Izhikevich model (4 parameters; Izhikevich 2007) or the exponential adaptive integrate-and-fire model (6 parameters, Gerstner and Brette 2005). Biophysical models that contain cable equations for passive membranes and Hodgkin–Huxley-type dynamics for active channels easily reach parameter counts of a dozen or more. Even higher parameter counts are achieved when coupling several neurons in a network, since synaptic coupling strengths...