Dynamic responses of neurons in different states under magnetic field stimulation.

Abstract

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is an effective method to treat neurophysiological disorders by modulating the electrical activities of neurons. Neurons can exhibit complex nonlinear behaviors underlying the external stimuli. Currently, we do not know how stimulation interacts with endogenous neural activity. In this paper, the effects of magnetic field on spiking neuron, bursting neuron and bistable neuron are studied based on the Hodgkin-Huxley (HH) neuron model. The results show that the neurons in three different states can exhibit different dynamic responses under magnetic field stimulation. The magnetic field stimulation could increase or decrease the firing frequencies of spiking neuron, bursting neuron and bistable neuron. The transitions between different firing patterns of neurons can be promoted by changing the parameters of the magnetic field. Magnetic field stimulation has a minimal impact on the firing temporal sequence sequences in bursting neuron than that in spiking neuron and bistable neuron. These results provided an insight into the impact of neuronal states on neuronal dynamic responses under brain stimulation and show that subtle changes in external conditions and stimuli can cause complex neuronal responses. This study can help us understand the state-dependent coding mechanism of neurons under electromagnetic stimulation.