Role of Astrocyte in Desynchronization Analogue Neural Network

Abstract

Neural synchronization is considered as a key role in several neurological diseases, such as Parkinson’s and Epilepsy’s disease. During these diseases, there is increased synchronization of massive numbers of neurons. In addition, evidences show that astrocytes modulate the synaptic interactions of the neuronal population. The Astrocyte is an important part of a neural network that can be involved in the desynchronization of the neuronal population. In this paper, we design a new analog neuromorphic circuit to implement the effect of astrocyte in the desynchronization of neural networks. The simulation results demonstrate that the astrocyte circuit as a feedback path can be desynchronized to a synchronized neural population. In this circuit, as a first step, the population of twenty neurons is synchronized with the same input currents. Next, by involving an astrocyte feedback circuit, the synchronization of the neural network is disturbed. Then, the neuronal population will be desynchronized. The proposed circuit is designed and simulated using HSPICE simulator in 0.35 μm standard CMOS technology.