Analog-digital facilitations (ADFs) correspond to a class of phenomena describing how subthreshold variations of the presynaptic membrane potential influence the synaptic transmission. ADFs rely on the propagation of somatic membrane potential fluctuations to the presynaptic bouton where they modulate ion channels availability, inducing modifications of the presynaptic spike waveform, and threfore modifying the neurotransmitter release. In this simulation, we show that myelination can promote the propagation of somatic voltage subtheshold fluctuations into the axon, allowing the ADFs to impact distal presynaptic bouton (up to 3mm from the soma).

Model Type: Axon

Region(s) or Organism(s): Neocortex

Cell Type(s): Neocortex L5/6 pyramidal GLU cell; Myelinated neuron

Model Concept(s): Action Potentials

Simulation Environment: NEURON

Implementer(s): Zbili, Mickael [zbili.mickael at gmail.com]

References:

Zbili M, Debanne D. (2020). Myelination increases the spatial extent of analog-digital modulation of synaptic transmission: a modeling study Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience. 14