Resonance-enhanced signal detection and transduction in the Hodgkin-Huxleyneuronal systems - art. no. 021907

The ability of signal detection and transduction of the Hodgkin-Huxley neur onal systems, associated with rhythmic oscillations in the presence of exte rnal modulations, is studied. Both inhibitory and excitatory modulations, r egarded as the total effects of the environment in which the neurons are lo cated, are able to modulate the frequencies of the rhythmic oscillations of the neurons. Either subthreshold or suprathreshold rhythmic oscillations c an provide the neural system with an effect of frequency selection in proce ssing external signal. Resonance among the noise, the noise-induced oscilla tion, and the signal enhances intensively the capability of the neurons in processing the weak signal, especially when frequency of the signal is arou nd that of the noise-induced rhythmic oscillation. Thus, the neuronal syste m can be adjusted to an optimal sensitive state for signal processing throu gh the environmental modulations.