Analysis of synchronization in the response of neurons to noisy periodic synaptic input

Abstract

The relationship between the timing of synaptic inputs and output spikes of leaky integrate and fire neurons with noisy periodic synaptic input is addressed. The phase transition matrix, relating the input and output spike phases, is calculated. The interspike interval histogram and the period histogram for the neural response to ongoing periodic input are then evaluated by using the leading eigenvector of this phase transition matrix. The dependence of the synchronization index of the neural response upon the number and amplitude of synaptic inputs, the membrane time constant, the average rate of inputs and their frequency of modulation is examined. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights..