Analysis of Neural Activation in Time-dependent Membrane Capacitance Models

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Courdurier, Matías, Medina, Leonel E., Paduro, Esteban
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Courdurier, Matías
Medina, Leonel E.
Paduro, Esteban
author_facet Courdurier, Matías
Medina, Leonel E.
Paduro, Esteban
contents Most models of neurons incorporate a capacitor to account for the marked capacitive behavior exhibited by the cell membrane. However, such capacitance is widely considered constant, thereby neglecting the possible effects of time-dependent membrane capacitance on neural excitability. This study presents a modified formulation of a neuron model with time-dependent membrane capacitance and shows that action potentials can be elicited for certain capacitance dynamics. Our main results can be summarized as: (a) it is necessary to have significant and abrupt variations in the capacitance to generate action potentials; (b) certain simple and explicitly constructed capacitance profiles with strong variations do generate action potentials; (c) forcing abrupt changes in the capacitance too frequently may result in no action potentials. These findings can have great implications for the design of ultrasound-based or other neuromodulation strategies acting through transiently altering the membrane capacitance of neurons.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2501_17803
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Analysis of Neural Activation in Time-dependent Membrane Capacitance Models
Courdurier, Matías
Medina, Leonel E.
Paduro, Esteban
Neurons and Cognition
Dynamical Systems
37N25, 92-10
Most models of neurons incorporate a capacitor to account for the marked capacitive behavior exhibited by the cell membrane. However, such capacitance is widely considered constant, thereby neglecting the possible effects of time-dependent membrane capacitance on neural excitability. This study presents a modified formulation of a neuron model with time-dependent membrane capacitance and shows that action potentials can be elicited for certain capacitance dynamics. Our main results can be summarized as: (a) it is necessary to have significant and abrupt variations in the capacitance to generate action potentials; (b) certain simple and explicitly constructed capacitance profiles with strong variations do generate action potentials; (c) forcing abrupt changes in the capacitance too frequently may result in no action potentials. These findings can have great implications for the design of ultrasound-based or other neuromodulation strategies acting through transiently altering the membrane capacitance of neurons.
title Analysis of Neural Activation in Time-dependent Membrane Capacitance Models
topic Neurons and Cognition
Dynamical Systems
37N25, 92-10
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2501.17803