Arithmetical operations performed by nerve cells

doi:10.1016/0006-8993(74)90375-8

Brain Research

Volume 69, Issue 1, 29 March 1974, Pages 115-124

https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-8993(74)90375-8 Get rights and content

Abstract

A simple neurone model is constructed and analysed mathematically to see what types of operation it can perform on its synaptic inputs. The neurone consists essentially of a soma together with semi-infinite dendrite. Provided their conductance changes are sufficiently small, excitatory synapses are linearly additive and inhibitory synapses are linearly subtractive, irrespective of location. Inhibitory synapses, producing large conductance changes and located preferably on the soma, are ideally suited to carry out division. The extension of this model to the more complex situation of branching dendritic trees is briefly examined and its relevance to real nerve cells is discussed.

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Arithmetical operations performed by nerve cells

Abstract

The classification of modifiable synapses and their use in models for conditioning

Nerve net models of plausible size that perform many simple learning tasks

Composite nature of the monosynaptic excitatory postsynaptic potential

J. Neurophysiol.

The specific ionic conductances and the ionic movements across the motoneuronal membrane that produce the inhibitory postsynaptic potential

J. Physiol. (Lond.)

Excitatory synaptic action in motoneurones

J. Physiol. (Lond.)

The Physiology of Synapses

Algebraic summation in synaptic activation of motoneurones firing within the ‘primary range’ to injected currents

J. Physiol. (Lond.)