A bursting mechanism of chattering neurons based on Ca2+-dependent cationic currents

We propose an ionic conductance model that simulates fast rhythmic bursts i n a single compartment neuron. In this modeling, the essential point is tha t Ca2+-dependent cationic current, whose reversal potential is approximatel y -45 mV,plays a key role for generating the depolarizing afterpotential (D AP) and the doublet/triplet firing. For the calcium dynamics, the kinetics of the extrusion and the chelation of intracellular free Ca2+ with Ca2+-pum p and buffering proteins is taken into account. The resulting model quite a ccurately predicts the experimentally observed natural pattern of the chatt ering behavior. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.