Model of long-range transmission of gamma oscillation

Abstract

Dynamic oscillations of local extracellular field potentials between 30 to 100 Hz have been associated with sensory perception, motor task planning, selective attention and working memory in cortical regions of the mammalian brain (Wang, 2003; Whittington et al., 1995). They have also been observed in the hippocampus. However, the degree of correlation with these tasks, as well as their cellular and network mechanisms is still the subject of study and debate. This is especially true with regard to rhythms observed in the hippocampus, which have been difficult to directly correlate with behavior (Wang, 2003). A minimal mathematical model was developed for a preliminary study of long-range neural transmission of gamma oscillation from the CA3 to the entorhinal cortex via the CA1 region of the hippocampus, a subset within a larger complex set of pathways. A module was created for each local population of neurons with common intrinsic properties and connectivity to simplify the connection process and make the model more flexible. Three modules were created using MATLAB Simulinkreg and tested to confirm that they transmit gamma through the system. The model also revealed that a portion of the signal from CA1 to the entorhinal cortex may be lost in transmission under certain conditions