A crucial issue in the understanding of neuronal oscillations is to elucidate the microcircuits that are the substrate to these rhythms in the different brain areas. This raises the question of whether rhythmic activity results solely from the properties of the network connectivity (e.g., excitation and inhibition) and topology or it involves the interplay of the latter with the intrincic properties (e.g., ionic currents) of the participating neurons. In this project we address this issue theoretically in the context of the hippocampal area CA1 microcircuits, which include excitatory (PYR) and inhibitory (INT) cells. It has been observed that PYR exhibit a preferred subthreshold frequency response to oscillatory inptus at (4 - 10 Hz) frequencies (resonance) 'in vitro'. Contrary to expectation, these cells do not exhibit spiking resonance in response to 'in vivo' direct oscillatory optogenetic activation, but, suprisingly, spiking resonance in PYR occurs when INT are activated. We combine dynamical systems tools, biophysical modeling and numerical simulations to understand the underlying mechanisms of these rather unexpected results. We show that the low-pass filter results form a combination of post-inhibitory rebound (the ability of a cell to spike in response to inhibition) and the intrinsic properties of PYR. The band-pass filter requires additional timing mechanisms that prevent the occurrence of spikes at low frequencies. We discuss various possible, conceptually different scenarios. These results and tools contribute to building a general theoretical and conceptual framework for the understanding of preferred frequency responses to oscillatory inputs in neuronal networks.

Short Bio: Horacio Rotstein is a Professor in the Federated Department of Biological Sciences, Rutgers University/NJIT. He completed his PhD at the Technion Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa, and has held visiting positions there, at Brandeis University and at Boston University. His research interests are in Applied Mathematics, Dynamical Systems, Mathematical and Computational Neurosciences, Brain Oscillations, Oscillatory Behavior in Biological and Chemical Systems.

- This is a joint CMM-Krembil Institute seminar -