Wavelets of excitability in sensory neurons

We have investigated variations in the excitability of mammalian cutaneous mechanoreceptor neurons. We focused on the phase dynamics of an action pote ntial relative to a periodic stimulus, showing that the excitability of the se sensory neurons has interesting nonstationary oscillations. Using a wave let analysis, these oscillations were characterized through the depiction o f their period as a function of time. It was determined that the induced os cillations are weakly dependent on the stimulus frequency, and that lower t emperatures significantly reduce the frequency of the phase response. Our r esults reveal novel excitability properties in sensory neurons, and, more g enerally, could prove significant in the deduction of mechanistic attribute s underlying the nonstationary excitability in neuronal systems. Since peri pheral neurons feed information to the CNS, variable responses observed in higher regions may be generated in part at the site of sensory detection.