Small dendritic synapses enhance temporal coding in a model of cochlear nucleus bushy cells

Journal of Neurophysiology, vol. 125, pp. 915–937

Abstract

We modeled dendritic inputs from the auditory nerve that spherical bushy cells of the cochlear nucleus receive. Dendritic inputs caused both tonic depolarization and modulation of the membrane potential at the input frequency. This improved the rate, entrainment, and temporal precision of output action potentials. Our simulations suggest a role for small dendritic inputs in auditory processing: they modulate the efficacy of the main input supporting temporal precision and fidelity in these central auditory neurons.

Authors 2

1. Elisabeth Koert Aachen Auditory Neurophysiology Group Department of Chemosensation

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Auditory Neurophysiology Group, Department of Chemosensation, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

2. Thomas Kuenzel corresponding Aachen Auditory Neurophysiology Group Department of Chemosensation

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Auditory Neurophysiology Group, Department of Chemosensation, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany