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Control of neural synchrony using channelrhodopsin-2: a computational study

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In this paper, we present an optical stimulation based approach to induce 1:1 in-phase synchrony in a network of coupled interneurons wherein each interneuron expresses the light sensitive protein channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2). We begin with a transition rate model for the channel kinetics of ChR2 in response to light stimulation. We then define “functional optical time response curve (fOTRC)” as a measure of the response of a periodically firing interneuron (transfected with ChR2 ion channel) to a periodic light pulse stimulation. We specifically consider the case of unidirectionally coupled (UCI) network and propose an open loop control architecture that uses light as an actuation signal to induce 1:1 in-phase synchrony in the UCI network. Using general properties of the spike time response curves (STRCs) for Type-1 neuron model (Ermentrout, Neural Comput 8:979-1001, 1996) and fOTRC, we estimate the (open loop) optimal actuation signal parameters required to induce 1:1 in-phase synchrony. We then propose a closed loop controller architecture and a controller algorithm to robustly sustain stable 1:1 in-phase synchrony in the presence of unknown deviations in the network parameters. Finally, we test the performance of this closed-loop controller in a network of mutually coupled (MCI) interneurons.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported through the intramural seed grant on Computational Biology from the University of Florida. SST and PRC were partially supported from the Wilder Center of Excellence for Epilepsy Research and the Childrens Miracle Network. PPK was partially supported by the Eckis Professor Endowment at the University of Florida. We acknowledge constructive feedback from Dr Willam Ogle, Dr Jason Frazier, Erin Boykin and Shivakeshavan Ratnadurai.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA

    Sachin S. Talathi & Paul R. Carney

  2. J Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA

    Sachin S. Talathi & Paul R. Carney

  3. Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA

    Pramod P. Khargonekar

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  1. Sachin S. Talathi
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Correspondence to Sachin S. Talathi.

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Talathi, S.S., Carney, P.R. & Khargonekar, P.P. Control of neural synchrony using channelrhodopsin-2: a computational study. J Comput Neurosci 31, 87–103 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10827-010-0296-6

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