Spike and burst synchronization in a detailed cortical network model with I-F neurons

Abstract

Previous studies have suggested that synchronized firing is a prominent feature of cortical processing. Simplified network models have replicated such phenomena. Here we study to what extent these results are robust when more biological detail is introduced. A biologically plausible network model of layer II/III of tree shrew primary visual cortex with a columnar architecture and realistic values on unit adaptation, connectivity patterns, axonal delays and synaptic strengths was investigated. A drifting grating stimulus provided afferent noisy input. It is demonstrated that under certain conditions, spike and burst synchronized activity between neurons, situated in different minicolumns, may occur.