GABA-mediated tonic inhibition differentially modulates gain in functional subtypes of cortical interneurons

Abstract

The binding of GABA (γ-aminobutyric acid) to extrasynaptic GABAA receptors generates tonic inhibition that acts as a powerful modulator of cortical network activity. Despite GABA being present throughout the extracellular space of the brain, previous work has shown that GABA may differentially modulate the excitability of neuron subtypes according to variation in chloride gradient. Here, using biophysically detailed neuron models, we predict that tonic inhibition can differentially modulate the excitability of neuron subtypes according to variation in electrophysiological properties. Surprisingly, tonic inhibition increased the responsiveness (or gain) in models with features typical for som..