CELLULAR SHORT-TERM-MEMORY FROM A SLOW POTASSIUM CONDUCTANCE

1. We use the dynamic clamp to add the slowly inactivating and slowly recovering K+ conductance Kv1.3 to cultured stomatogastric ganglion ne urons. 2. Introduction of Kv1.3 produced long delays to firing during depolarization. Additionally, the slow recovery from inactivation prod uced an increase in neuronal excitability after a depolarizing input t hat outlasted the input by many seconds. Finally, when introduced into bursting neurons, Kv1.3 produced a long-lasting depolarization-induce d switch between tonic and burst firing. 3. These data demonstrate tha t the slow kinetics of a K+ conductance can produce a form of cellular short-term memory that is independent of any changes in synaptic effi cacy.