Cooperative activation of sodium channels for downgrading the energy efficiency in neuronal information processing

The Hodgkin–Huxley model assumes independent ion channel activation,although mutual interactions are common in biological systems.This raises the problem why neurons would favor independent over cooperative channel activation.In this study,we evaluate how cooperative activation of sodium channels affects the neuron’s information processing and energy consumption.Simulations of the stochastic Hodgkin–Huxley model with cooperative activation of sodium channels show that,while cooperative activation enhances neuronal information processing capacity,it greatly increases the neuron’s energy consumption.As a result,cooperative activation of sodium channel degrades the energy efficiency for neuronal information processing.This discovery improves our understanding of the design principles for neural systems,and may provide insights into future designs of the neuromorphic computing devices as well as systematic understanding of pathological mechanisms for neural diseases.

A Transient-State Simulation of Ionization Effects in a Microwave Tube

A model for studying the ionization effects in a microwave tube has been developed. This model is simulated by a two-dimensional particle-in-cell code with the Mont Carlo collision model for the electron-neutral ionization process. The transient-state process of ion noise and ion focusing effects are observed. A simple theory about ion motion is given for interpreting the phenomenon of the ion moving to the wall of the tube when the beam is not neutralized. The computed result agrees with the experiment and simulation result.

Coherence resonance in globally coupled neuronal networks with different neuron numbers

Because a brain consists of tremendous neuronal networks with different neuron numbers ranging from tens to tens of thousands, we study the coherence resonance due to ion channel noises in globally coupled neuronal networks with different neuron numbers. We confirm that for all neuronal networks with different neuron numbers there exist the array enhanced coherence resonance and the optimal synaptic conductance to cause the maximal spiking coherence. Furthermoremore, the enhancement effects of coupling on spiking coherence and on optimal synaptic conductance are almost the same, regardless of the neuron numbers in the neuronal networks. Therefore for all the neuronal networks with different neuron numbers in the brain, relative weak synaptic conductance （0.1 mS/cm2） is sufficient to induce the maximal spiking coherence and the best sub-threshold signal encoding.